THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSIT 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

IN  MEMORY  OF 
MRS.  VIRGINIA  B.  SPOREI 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 


BY 

RICHMOND  HAIGH 


NEW  YORK 
HENRY   HOLT   AND   COMPANY 


COPYRIGHT,  igig 

BY 
HENRY  HOLT  AND  COMPANY 


TO 

BEATRICE 

AND 

H.   E.  H. 


2041673 


AUTHOR'S  NOTE 

THE  following  Saga  does  not  profess  to  be  his- 
toric in  the  literal  sense,  as  what  Saga  does? 
Nevertheless  the  persons  and  incidents  contained 
in  it  are  so  nearly,  or  were  so  nearly,  true  to  life 
that  many  South  Africans  will  easily  be  reminded 
of  the  originals.  I  have  made  numerous  attempts 
to  discover  an  Ethiopian  artist  to  illustrate  this 
story  of  his  own  people,  but  so  far  without  suc- 
cess. Perhaps  upon  another  occasion  such  an 
artist  will  discover  himself  to  me.  The  native 
sayings  and  proverbs  scattered  throughout  the 
text  have  been  collected  from  many  sources;  but 
chiefly  I  am  indebted  for  them  to  the  Rev.  J. 
A.  Winter  of  Sekukuniland,  to  whom  I  here  offer 
my  thanks.  Lastly  I  have  to  thank  the  Editor 
of  the  New  Age  for  his  permission  to  republish 
here  such  parts  of  this  story  as  were  first  pub- 
lished in  that  journal. 

R.  H. 
PORT  ELIZABETH. 

vii 


CONTENTS 

AUTHOR'S  NOTE v 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.      "TWO     ARMADILLOS     DO     NOT     LIVE     IN 

ONE  HOLE  " 3 

II.      "  WHAT  THE  DAWN   WILL  BRING  IS   NOT 

KNOWN  " 7 

in.    "THE  BUCK  HAS  JUMPED  OUT  OF  THE 

POT" 12 

IV.  "  THE  LION'S  LAIR  IS  BURNED  DOWN  J 
RATS  ARE  IN  THE  OPEN;  VULTURES 
ARE  LOOKING  OUT  FOR  MEAT  "  .  .  IQ 

V.      "ONE   LINK   ONLY   SOUNDS   BECAUSE   OF 

ANOTHER  " 25 

VI.  "  HE  WILL  NOT  EAT  OUT  OF  HIS  CHIL- 
DREN'S DISHES" 30 

vn.    "WATCHER  OF  THE  MOON,  BEWARE  OF 

THE   DARKNESS  "  ....          32 

UlI.      "IF   YOU   DESPISE  THE   DOCTOR,   DESPISE 

THE  SICKNESS   ALSO "  ...         36 

IX.      "  A    GREAT    ONE    MUST     HAVE    A    LONG 

HEART " 43 

X:    "  TO  KEEP  HIS  OWN  SECRETS  HE  TALKS 

OF  OTHERS" 48 

vii 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTEl 
XI. 


XII. 


XIII. 


XIV. 


XV. 


XVI. 


XVII. 


XVIII. 


XIX. 


XX. 


XXI. 


XXII. 


XXIII. 


"BE  SILENT,  TREE;  DON'T  LISTEN  TO 

THE  NOISE  OF  HATCHETS  "  50 

"  WE    ARE    WANDERING    IN    THE    BELLY 

OF  A  BULLOCK  "  ....          54 

"  THE  DOG  THAT  ALWAYS  LOOKS  DOWN 

STEALS  FAT  FROM  THE  POTS  "  .  57 

"  THE  FIG-TREE  DOES  NOT  CALL  THE 

BIRDS  "  ...  .  .  .  .  62 

"  NO  NEED  TO  TEACH  A  MONKEY  HOW 

TO  CLIMB  "  .....  63 

"THE  DRIFT  is  NEVER  GOOD  ON  ALL 

SIDES"        .       .  ...       70 

"  WHO    FOLLOWS    A    WOMAN    FALLS 

DOWN  A  KRANZ  "      ....       7! 

"  THE  LITTLE  FOUNTAIN  AHEAD  MAKES 

ONE  VERY  THIRSTY  "...  74 

"  THE  CHILDREN  OF  ONE  MOTHER 
SHARE  THE  HEAD  OF  A  LOCUST 
BETWEEN  THEM  "  .  .  .  -77 

"  THE  POINT  OF  THE  NEEDLE  MUST  PASS 
FIRST"  .  ...  .  .  82 

"  HE  WHO  IS  PIERCED  WITH  A  THORN 
MUST  LIMP  OFF  TO  HIM  WHO  HAS 
A  KNIFE"  .  .  .  ,  .  89 

"  STOLEN    HORNS   DO    NOT    STICK   ON 

THE  HEAP  "  ....         94 

"  HUNGER  BRINGS  THE  CROCODILE  OUT 

OF  THE  WATER  "          .          .          »          .         98 


CONTENTS 

IX 

CHAPTER 

PAGE 

XXIV. 

"  WHEN      THE      JACKAL      CROSSES      A 

MEADOW       HE      CURLS      HIS      TAIL 

DOWN  "       

101 

XXV. 

"  CAUTION    COMES    AFTER    RECEIVING 

A    WOUND  "        

105 

XXVI. 

"  THE  MOUTH  IS  THE  SISTER  OF  THE 

ROAD"       

109 

XXVII. 

"THE  FINEST  TREES  ARE  FAR  AWAY 

IN   THE   KLOOFS  "      . 

123 

XXVIII. 

"  THE    COW    LICKS    THE    ONE    THAT 

LICKS   HER  "       

126 

XXIX. 

"THE  CHILD  THAT  DOES   NOT   CRY 

DIES  ON  ITS  MOTHER'S  BACK  " 

130 

XXX. 

"ONE    CANNOT    EAT    BOTH     KIDNEYS 

OF  THE  ELEPHANT  AT  ONE  TIME  " 

136 

XXXI. 

"THE  FIG-TREE  DOES  NOT  GET  RIPE 

BY    SEEING    A    BABOON  "    . 

I4O 

XXXII. 

"  THE     HASTY     ONE     EATS     A     HARE  ; 

THE  STEADY  ONE  EATS  A  CALF  "    . 

J47 

XXXIII. 

"  THE    TIGER-CAT    IS    BECOMING    ON 

HIS    NATURAL   GROUND  " 

152 

XXXIV. 

"  HE    WHO   ALREADY    KNOWS   A    MAT- 

TER WILL  CONFUSE  THE  LIAR  "     . 

158 

XXXV. 

"  WITH  THE  MOUTH  ONE  CAN  CROSS 

THE    FULLEST   RIVER  "      . 

162 

XXXVI. 

"THE   CALF   OF   THE   DOCTOR   DIES 

FULL    OF    THE    SMELL    OF     MEDI- 

CINE" 

166 

CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

XXXVII. 


XXXVIII. 


XXXIX. 


XL. 


XLI. 


XLII. 


XLIII. 


XLIV. 


XLV. 


"THE    WALLS     HAVE    COME    INTO 

COLLISION  " 171 

"  SCOFFING  AND  DESTRUCTION  GO 
HAND-IN-HAND"  .  .  .  174 

"  DUIKER,  COME  OUT  OF  THE  BEANS, 
YOU  WILL  BE  TRAPPED"  .  .  176 

"THE  WATER  MAY  LOOK  SHALLOW, 

BUT  ONE   MAY  BE  DROWNED  "       .       l8o 

"  YOU  HAVE  HELD  A  BUFFALO  BY 
THE  HORN  FOR  ME "  .  .  .  189 

"THE  MOUTH  WHICH  ATE  DIRT 
SHALL  EAT  FAT,  AND  THE 
MOUTH  THAT  ATE  FAT  SHALL 

EAT  DIRT  " 192 

"  HE    IS    NOT    PITIED    WHO    BRINGS 

THE  EVIL  UPON  HIMSELF "  .       IQS 

"  THE    LITTLE    DUIKER    OF    POINTED 

HAIR    ..." 199 

"  THE  LYNX  SAYS,  '  I  AM  FLEET  OF 
FOOT,'  BUT  THE  PLAINS  SAY,  '  WE 
ARE  WIDE  '  "  2O2 


AN    ETHIOPIAN   SAGA 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

CHAPTER  I 

"TWO  ARMADILLOS  DO  NOT  LIFE  IN  ONE 
HOLE  " 

AT  Koloani's  head  kraal  there  was  some  little 
commotion,  for  Jamba,  son  of  Bama  the  War- 
rior, had  come  from  Kundu's  with  disquieting 
news. 

Now  Kundu  was  the  hereditary  head  chief  of 
all  the  Pabedi,  but,  because  of  the  great  num- 
ber of  his  people,  the  White  Strangers,  who  now 
ruled  the  land,  had,  with  cunning,  induced  Kolo- 
ani,  his  half-brother,  to  rebel  and  to  take  arms 
against  him,  and  then,  for  the  Peace  of  the 
Land,  the  White  Men  had  come  between  them 
and  said  that  the  tribe  must  be  divided :  Koloani 
and  all  those  who  had  followed  him,  with  their 
families,  should  live  in  one  district  with  the 
Moali  for  their  river;  Kundu  with  his  people 
should  remain  at  Nilisetsi — which  was,  and  had 


4  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

always  been,  the  King's  Kraal — and  possess  that 
district;  the   Rugged   Hills   should  be  between 
them  for  a  border  on  each  side. 
And  so  the  tribe  was  divided. 

"  The  bitter  berry  may  have  a  shining  outside." 

But  Kundu  and  his  head  men  and  councillors 
were  angered  at  tLis  doing.  Nevertheless  they 
found  it  wise  to  dissemble,  for  the  face  of  the 
White  Men  was  with  Koloani  to  protect  him. 
And,  in  a  little  while,  the  men  and  maidens  of 
the  tribe  went  back  and  forth  from  one  part  to 
the  other. 

Now  a  time  had  come  when  the  White  Stran- 
gers in  the  land,  having  grown  rich,  became  dull 
in  council  because  of  their  fatness,  and,  from 
much  talking  and  slandering,  were  now  moving 
in  camps  against  each  other,  and  had  fought 
many  battles.  And  on  a  day  this  side  would 
win,  and  on  another  day  that  side. 

But  now  it  appeared  that  those  White  Men 
who  came  from  over  the  Water,  and  who  were 
in  numbers  as  the  locusts  which  darken  the  Sun, 
would  be  the  victors.  When  this  was  under- 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  5 

stood  the  councillors  of  Kundu  met  together,  and 
the  Chief  was  with  them.  And  Mokani,  the  First 
Councillor,  stood  forth  and  said,  "  Hearken,  O 
Chief!  Son  of  Manduku  and  Father  of  Thou- 
sands !  and  ye,  Men  of  Council,  hear  my  words. 

"  Make  the  pot  while  the  clay  is  good." 

"  The  White  Men  fight  together,  and  they  who 
are  beaten  and  sore  pressed  are  the  friends  of 
Koloani,  but  our  enemies.  Now,  therefore,  the 
time  for  which  we  have  waited  has  come.  We 
have  trod  on  our  hearts  for  many  moons.  The 
Snake  has  been  in  our  midst,  but  because  of 
the  rocks  which  protected  him  we  could  do  noth- 
ing. Now  the  Storm  has  shattered  the  rocks, 
and  before  fresh  cover  can  be  found  the  Snake 
must  be  destroyed.  Koloani  and  his  House  must 
be  cut  off;  but  the  people  with  him,  are  they  not 
thy  people,  O  Kundu?  And  if  the  goats  stray 
because  of  a  bad  leader  it  is  not  necessary  to 
kill  the  whole  flock.  Now,  therefore,  my  words 
are  these:  Give  command,  Kundu  of  the  Lion 
breed,  to  thy  general,  Bokalobi,  that  he  take  an 
hundred  men  of  his  best  to-night,  and  that,  at 


6  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

the  falling  of  darkness,  they  set  forth  swiftly 
and  in  silence  against  Koloani.  Before  the  turn 
of  the  night  they  will  be  upon  him,  and  he  and 
his  whole  house,  man,  woman,  and  child,  should 
be  destroyed.  Then,  as  the  day  breaks,  let  it 
be  proclaimed  from  every  point  of  Tabandini 
that  the  people  are  to  be  at  Peace  and  not  to 
fear,  since  your  will  is  not  evil  towards  them, 
but  good." 

When  Mokani  had  finished  speaking  in  this 
wise,  the  Chief  turned  to  the  other  councillors 
and  they  spoke  amongst  themselves  and  with 
Mokani.  And  their  hearts  were  with  him  in 
this  matter,  and  Kundu  sent  for  his  general, 
Bokalobi. 


CHAPTER  II 

"WHAT   THE   DAWN   WILL  BRING  IS  NOT 

KNOWN" 

"  In   the    darkness,    the    cow   which   lows    gets 
milked." 

Now  it  had  happened  that  Jamba  was  return- 
ing from  a  visit  to  the  house  of  Mafefu,  whose 
kraal  was  at  a  distance,  and  being  tired  had 
stopped  to  rest  near  Nilisetsi,  Kundu's  kraal. 
And  while  he  lay  in  the  grass  close  to  the  river 
two  young  women  came  with  their  pots  for 
water,  speaking  loudly,  as  is  their  way,  and 
Jamba  heard  from  one  that  the  father  of  her 
house  had  been  at  the  Place  of  Council  since 
noon,  and  that  Kundu,  the  Chief,  had  sent  her 
brother  to  call  Bokalobi,  the  General,  and  that 
now  she  was  to  prepare  an  early  meal  for  her 
brother,  who  had  told  her  that  there  was  man's 
work  to  do  which  concerned  not  woman  to  know. 
At  these  words  Jamba  gave  great  heed  to  hear 
more,  but  the  girls,  drawing  their  water,  turned 
back  quickly  to  the  kraal. 
7 


8  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

Now  Jamba,  although  scarce  yet  a  man,  was 
wise;  so  he  gathered  up  his  blanket,  and,  taking 
the  shortest  paths,  he  hastened  and  tarried  not 
until  he  came  to  Moali,  to  his  kraal,  when  he 
related  to  his  father,  Bama  the  Warrior  what 
he  had  heard.  And  he  said,  "  My  Father,  I  fear 
Kundu  is  of  mind  to  come  against  us."  Then 
Bama  took  his  son  Jamba  to  the  Place  of  Coun- 
cil ;  and  when  he  had  repeated  these  things  which 
he  had  heard,  the  old  men  spoke  together  upon 
them.  And  Manok,  long  of  tooth  and  wise,  said, 
"  Go  now,  Jamba.  Thou  hast  done  well  to  bring 
us  this  word  so  speedily." 

"As  one  goes  so  one  returns." 

When  the  young  man  had  gone  out  Manok 
said,  "  Hear,  Koloani  of  the  Blood  of  Kings, 
and  ye,  my  brothers,  hear  my  words.  The  mes- 
sage which  Jamba  has  brought  is  as  the  cry  of 
the  bird,  the  Quaraquara,  which  is  a  warning 
to  the  deer  that  the  hunter  approaches;  and 
though  the  bird  may  have  become  disturbed  from 
slight  cause,  it  is  yet  well  for  the  game  to  take 
the  alarm.  How  stand  we  now?  Our  runners 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  g 

bring  word  that  these  White  Men  upon  whom 
we  have  counted  for  assistance  can  with  diffi- 
culty keep  themselves  together,  and  are  being 
driven  like  cattle  before  those  who  fight  against 
them.  They  can  be  of  no  use  to  us  now,  and 
Kundu  will  know  this  as  well  as  we.  The  sore 
upon  his  head  has  not  healed  with  time;  rather 
does  the  running  of  it  continually  irritate  him 
more.  And  now,  surely,  that  we  have  lost  our 
Right  Arm,  he  will  seek  to  be  avenged  upon 
us.  What  think  you,  Bama,  my  brother,  Chief 
of  Warriors! — what  may  we  expect?  " 

"A  good  chief  lights  the  fire  for  his  people." 

And  Bama,  Victor  of  many  Fights,  said,  "  My 
words,  O  Koloani  and  brothers,  are  few;  hear 
them!  Bokalobi  is  a  wise  man  and  of  much 
learning  in  war.  He  will  know  our  strength  even 
as  we  know  theirs.  Putting  weight  upon  the 
word  we  have  heard  it  would  seem  that  now, 
even  this  night,  Kundu  has  sent  summons  to  his 
villages — to  Malopani,  to  N'quobi,  aye,  even  to 
Sandabo,  Son  of  Daasha,  who  can  bring  a  thou- 
sand spears.  Three  days  must  pass  ere  they  can 


10  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

be  gathered  together  against  us.  Two  days  will 
it  take  thee,  Koloani,  Chief  of  thy  Line,  to  bring 
thy  spears  together  at  this  place.  But  Kundu  will 
think  to  surprise  us  and  gain  a  day,  perhaps  two. 
If  my  words  seem  right,  then,  at  the  rising  of 
the  Sun  let  thy  messengers  go  forth  and  call  in 
thy  people  from  Sankili,  the  dry  spring,  even  to 
Vamoling,  bordering  the  land  of  Kamalubi,  Chief 
of  Rasalamoom;  that  we  may  be  not  as  foolish 
game,  which,  having  heard  the  Quaraquara,  is 
yet  taken  by  surprise.  Should  it  be  that  we  have 
not  read  the  word  aright,  and  the  mind  of  Kundu 
is  not  against  us  at  this  time,  even  then,  Koloani, 
of  a  Long  Arm!  the  clashing  of  spears  is  a  good 
sound  and  pleasant  in  the  warrior's  ear.  A  Great 
Day  of  dancing  will  be  of  comfort  and  cheer  to 
thy  people.  These  are  my  words." 

Then,  after  these  sayings  had  been  considered 
by  the  Council,  arose  Koloani,  the  Chief.  Now, 
Koloani  was  not  a  man  who  delighted  in  war. 
Rather  was  he  a  dreamer,  and  loved  those  who 
sang  songs.  Nevertheless,  in  war  was  the  Chief 
of  great  bravery.  And  Koloani  said,  "  I  have 
heard,  my  Fathers!  and  every  word  has  been  of 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  11 

weight.  But  even  as  I  have  listened  my  eyes  have 
seen  a  dark  and  swift  rising  of  the  Waters,  as 
of  the  furious  wave  which  comes  from  the  sharp 
and  crashing  Thunderstorm.  True,  the  wave 
passes  in  a  moment ;  but  it  has  swept  the  stream, 
and  he  who  follows  in  his  boat  need  have  no 
fear.  What,  my  Fathers,  if  Kundu  wait  not  for 
Malopani,  nor  for  N'quobi,  nor  for  others  at  a 
distance,  but  that  he  bring  Nilisetsi  against  Moali, 
his  village  against  mine?  for  there  are  none  who 
dwell  between  us.  Consider  this  thing  also ;  even 
this  night  might  they  set  forth  against  us,  and, 
unprepared,  we  could  not  stand  before  them." 

Now  these  were  wise  words  of  Koloani  the 
Chief,  but  fighting  in  this  way  had  not  taken 
place  in  those  parts  before.  So  the  weight  of 
the  Council  was  against  alarming  the  people  that 
night.  It  being  late  already,  the  Council  dis- 
persed, having  decided  to  act  as  Bama  the  War- 
rior had  said ;  to  be  astir  at  break  of  day  to  attend 
to  these  things. 


CHAPTER  III 
"THE  BUCK  HAS  JUMPED  OUT  OF  THE  POT" 

"  The  sun  never  sets  without  fresh  news." 
AT  this  time,  the  falling  of  darkness,  Bokalobi, 
the  General,  gave  order,  and  he  and  his  hundred 
men  and  ten,  chosen  of  the  mightiest  and  best, 
gave  greeting  to  the  Chief,  Kundu,  and  turning 
their  faces  towards  Moali  held  their  spears  aloft 
and  shook  them.  Then  Bokalobi  sprang  forward 
with  a  great  leap,  and  his  men  followed,  and  were 
at  once  out  of  sight;  but  not  a  sound  was  heard. 
And  Kundu  returned  to  his  house  with  a  smile 
upon  his  face,  for  he  expected  great  things.  And 
his  heart  yearned  to  be  avenged  upon  Koloani. 

Across  the  river  and  over  the  sand;  through 
the  thorn  bush  and  into  the  corn  lands  went 
Bokalobi  and  his  men.  And  here,  only,  did  they 
walk  because  of  the  thick  dry  leaves  which  cov- 
ered the  ground  after  the  plucking  of  the  corn. 
Then  on  again,  springing  forward,  landing  ever 
19 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  13 

lightly  on  the  toes;  and  so  from  dusk  to  mid- 
night. 

Then  Bokalobi  raised  his  spear  and  stood,  and 
each  man,  as  he  saw,  raised  his  spear  and  stood, 
that  those  behind  might  also  see  and  stand.  Then 
they  gathered  about  Bokalobi  to  hear  his  word. 
And  Bokalobi  called  the  Ten  Men  together  whom 
he  had  appointed  as  leaders  and  heard  them  re- 
peat the  orders  which  he  had  given  them.  To 
each  Leader  with  ten  warriors  was  it  given  to 
deal  with  a  certain  Sabolo,  that  is,  the  huts  of 
one  family  in  a  Korral:  to  slay  every  man  and 
boy,  and  to  deal  with  the  women  and  girls  ac- 
cording as  they  behaved ;  also,  to  cut  down  every 
Man  of  the  Enemy  who  came  in  their  way.  When 
they  had  finished  with  their  Sabolo  they  should 
make  their  way  again  to  Bokalobi,  who  would 
await  them  at  the  house  of  Koloani  the  Chief, 
with  which  he  himself  would  deal. 

And  now,  again,  they  moved  forward  silently 
on  the  great  entrance  to  the  village  Moali,  and 
each  Leader  of  Ten  drew  away  with  his  men 
in  the  direction  of  his  Sabolo. 

Presently  there  was  barking  of  dogs  in  the 


14  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

village,  and  then  a  shout,  and  another,  and  scream- 
ing of  women.  And  the  people,  terrified,  came 
rushing  out  of  their  huts,  and  none  knew  what 
had  happened.  But  here  and  there,  and  at  the 
Sabolo  of  the  Chief,  and  where  Bama  the  War- 
rior lived  there  rose  the  sound  of  fighting  and 
the  angry  shouts  of  men;  and  this  died  away, 
and  there  was  silence  again.  The  people  trem- 
bled and  looked  at  each  other,  and  asked  what 
this  thing  meant.  Then,  as  they  stood  yet  amazed 
before  their  huts,  the  people  saw  Warriors  pass, 
with  springing  step  and  shaking  spears,  before 
them  and  out  of  the  village.  But  they  knew 
not  who  they  were  in  the  darkness,  for  Bokalobi 
had  ordered  silence  amongst  his  men. 

Then  Bokalobi  led  his  Warriors  into  the  Taban- 
dini,  the  Rugged  Hills,  to  await  the  coming  of 
Kundu  and  all  those  with  him.  For  he  had  sent 
off  Koromati,  swift  of  foot,  with  tidings  to  the 
Chief. 

"Do  not  follow  a  snake  to  its  bed." 

Now  the  General  called  together  the  Leaders 
of  Ten  and  asked,  "What  of  Koloani?"  And 
the  Leaders  were  astonished  and  asked,  "  Was 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  15 

he  not  at  his  house  ?  "  Then  Bokalobi  was  sore 
at  heart  and  said,  "  I  found  him  not  at  his  Sabolo, 
and  the  women  of  his  House  whom  I  questioned 
knew  only  that  he  had  been  there,  and  they  pointed 
to  his  bed  which  had  been  lain  upon.  And  they 
spoke  truth,  for  the  first  who  said  she  knew  not 
was  struck  down  before  the  others,  but  they 
could  say  only  this.  And  I  thought,  He  will  have 
visited  Monokang  or  Bama,  or  some  other,  and 
will  surely  fall  before  one  of  my  men.  And  we 
could  not  tarry  for  already  the  alarm  had  been 
given,  and  it  was  useless  then  to  search  for  any 
man  in  the  darkness,  in  his  own  place."  And 
Bokalobi  bowed  his  head  and  was  much  troubled. 

"  When  you  speak  of  a  rhinoceros  look  for  a 
tree." 

Then  he  who  had  been  leader  against  Bama 
the  Warrior  and  his  House,  Pondabi,  maker  of 
spear-heads,  an  honourable  man,  stood  forth  and 
said,  "O  Bokalobi,  Lion  and  Wolf!  be  yet  of 
cheer  and  hear  my  words,  for  it  may  be  that  it 
is  with  He-who-troubled  even  as  you  thought, 
and  that  the  purpose  of  our  coming  is  accom- 
plished. Behold,  in  the  Sabolo  of  Bama,  Man 


16  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

of  Might,  we  counted  to  meet  twelve  men;  for 
Bama  had  seven  sons,  and  the  men  who  dwelt 
with  him  to  serve  him  were  four.  And  it  was 
known  that  the  four  unmarried  sons  slept  in  one 
hut  and  the  three  married  sons  each  in  his  own 
hut,  and  the  four  men  who  were  servants  in  one 
hut.  Bama  slept  alone.  So  I  divided  my  men 
accordingly  against  the  five  huts,  and  I  myself 
went  swiftly  towards  the  sleeping-place  of  Bama. 
The  door  of  his  hut  was  open,  and,  examining 
closely,  I  found  no  one  there,  and  so  I  hurried 
to  the  hut  of  the  eldest  son,  Touga,  giving  the 
call  of  the  guinea-fowl,  that  my  men  should  know 
me.  Porodak,  who  followed  in  my  House,  had 
chosen  Touga  for  his  spear  and  he  pushed  aside 
the  door  of  Touga's  hut  and  called  him,  saying 
he  must  speak  with  him.  And  Touga,  true  son 
of  his  father,  had  seized  his  sticks  and  spear  and 
sprung  forth,  and  had  fallen  to  the  spear  of 
Porodak  as  I  came  up  with  them.  But  Bama 
was  not  there.  And  now  three  other  of  my  men 
came  towards  us;  and  their  step  was  light  for 
their  spears  were  red.  And  even  while  I  asked 
them  of  Bama,  lo!  a  shout,  and  from  the  dark- 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  17 

ness  of  the  wall  two  men  sprang  upon  us.  Two 
lions,  verily,  were  they;  two  against  five;  and  he, 
the  taller  of  the  two,  was  Bama  the  Warrior,  but 
the  other  I  could  not  see  because  of  the  rush, 
and  that  my  eyes  were  for  Bama  only.  And 
Bama  had  in  his  right  hand  his  war  club,  and  in 
his  left  hand  his  spear.  The  club  fell  upon  the 
head  of  Porodak,  he  who  followed  in  my  House, 
and  crushed  it  like  a  melon.  The  spear  pierced 
the  throat  of  him  to  whom  I  had  been  speak- 
ing— and  I  heard  Bama  grunt  deeply  with  the 
joy  of  it.  Then  the  Warrior  drew  back  his  spear 
and  raised  his  war  club,  of  great  weight,  against 
me,  and  we  both  struck  and  parried  together; 
he  with  his  spear  drove  down  mine  so  that  it 
only  pierced  his  thigh;  while  his  club — such  was 
the  strength  of  his  arm — bore  down  my  guard  and 
struck  my  shoulder,  so  that  my  arm  refuses  even 
yet  to  raise  itself.  The  fight  was  to  Bama,  for 
though  sorely  hurt  in  the  thigh  he  could  yet  stand 
and  strike  and  guard  against  my  one  arm.  But 
now,  seeing  his  friend,  whose  spear  had  broken 
off  in  the  ribs  of  Sekobo,  son  of  Mokani,  being1 
overcome  by  Talipi,  of  the  bow  legs,  Bama  hurled 


18  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

his  spear  which  took  Talipi  under  his  right  arm 
and  drove  deeply  in;  but  Talipi's  club  had  in  the 
same  action  crashed  upon  the  face  of  his  enemy. 
Now  Bama,  Lion  of  Heart!  had  lain  himself 
open  to  me,  and  my  spear  entered  his  chest,  and 
the  point  came  out  between  his  shoulders.  The 
Mighty  One  turned  his  face  to  me  and  stood  like 
a  stricken  elephant;  then  he  sank  to  the  earth. 
The  other  men,  each  kissing  his  bloody  spear, 
had  now  come  up,  O  Bokalobi,  and  we  hurried 
to  meet  you,  bringing  with  us  our  dead.  And 
now,  Bokalobi,  the  man  whose  face  I  saw  not, 
was  of  the  height  and  build  of  Koloani,  and  he 
was  a  Man  of  Valour.  More  I  cannot  say,  for 
I  know  not ;  but  my  heart,  O  General !  says,  '  Be 
comforted,  for  our  enemy  is  dead.'  " 

And  Bokalobi,  the  General,  was  fain  to  be- 
lieve that  it  was  even  as  the  heart  of  Pondabi, 
the  Smith,  had  told  him. 


CHAPTER  IV 

"THE  LION'S  LAIR  IS  BURNED  DOWN;  RATS 
ARE  IN  THE  OPEN;  VULTURES  ARE  LOOK- 
ING OUT  FOR  MEAT" 

AND  now  the  sound  of  great  wailing  and  lamen- 
tation was  in  the  air,  and,  as  the  day  broke, 
Bokalobi  and  those  who  were  with  him  saw  from 
Tabandini,  the  Rugged  Hills,  that  there  was  a 
great  commotion  at  Moali,  the  place  of  Koloani. 
Men  ran  to  and  fro  beating  the  breast,  and  ever 
a  great  sound  of  wailing  arose  as  the  people  came 
together.  And  soon  messengers  were  seen  to 
leave  the  village  and  run  swiftly  in  many  direc- 
tions. 

But  Bokalobi  moved  not  from  the  hills.  And 
now,  just  after  the  rising  of  the  Sun,  came  Kun- 
du,  with  all  the  men  who  could  be  with  him; 
for  the  Chief  had  not  waited  for  the  messenger 
sent  by  Bokalobi,  but  had  met  him  on  the  way. 
And  Mokani,  the  First  Councillor,  whose  son, 
Sekobo,  had  been  slain  in  the  fight,  was  with 
19 


20  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

the  Chief,  and  they  all  entered  quickly  into  the 
hill  and  came  to  Bokalobi,  the  General.  Boka- 
lobi  told  at  once  to  the  Chief  and  to  Mokani  what 
had  been  done ;  and  also  the  word  about  Koloani, 
at  which  hearing  Kundu  was  ill-pleased,  but  hoped 
that  it  was  even  as  Pondabi,  the  Smith,  had 
said. 

And  now  Mokani  stood  forth,  and  Bokalobi 
with  him,  and  moved  towards  Moali.  And  Boka- 
lobi blew  upon  his  horn  loudly  three  times.  Then 
of  a  sudden  the  wailing  ceased,  and  the  eyes  of 
the  people  in  the  village  were  turned  towards  the 
hills,  and  they  saw  Mokani  advancing  towards 
them  with  his  hands  held  high  in  sign  of  peace, 
and  Bokalobi  coming  on  with  him,  behind.  And 
these  two  came  to  a  Rock  which  stood  out  not 
far  from  the  village,  and  Mokani  called  out  with 
a  loud  voice  that  the  men  of  the  village  should 
come  nearer  and  hear  his  words,  which  were 
words  of  peace  and  good  cheer. 

In  a  little  while  many  men  came  forth  out  of 
the  village,  and  when  they  were  below  him,  not 
far  from  the  rock,  Mokani  the  First  Councillor, 
spoke  and  said: 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  21 

"  A  sharp  spear  needs  no  polish." 

"  Hear  now,  O  Men  of  Moali,  the  word  of 
Kundu,  Son  of  Dukani,  Son  of  Parolong,  Son 
of  Bonoa,  the  only  true  and  rightful  Chief  of 
this  land  and  of  all  the  Peoples  here.  Well  does 
Kundu,  your  Lord,  know  that  your  Hearts  were 
never  against  him,  but  that  you  were  led  away 
by  Koloani  and  his  young  and  evil  councillors. 
Kundu  bears  towards  you  no  ill-will;  his  face  is 
kind  towards  you.  Koloani  and  those  with  him 
have  received  the  death  they  deserved ;  and  those 
White  Strangers  who  placed  their  feet  upon  our 
necks  will  soon  be  slaves  to  another  nation.  Now, 
therefore,  the  word  of  Kundu  is  this :  His  peo- 
ple must  sharpen  their  spears  for  strangers,  not 
against  each  other.  Tabandini  is  to  be  no  longer 
a  Border  between  them.  He  promises  pardon  to 
all  men;  and  he  now,  here  in  the  Rugged  Hills, 
awaits  and  expects  that  you  will  without  delay 
send  in  your  due  submission  to  him.  And,  Broth- 
ers, hear  me;  Kundu,  your  Lord  and  Chief,  has 
not  come  alone;  his  army  is  with  him.  If  his 
brow  was  black  towards  you  he  could  in  a  mo- 


22  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

ment  pile  your  village  in  a  heap  and  burn  it  so 
that  not  a  stick  remained.  Weigh  now  the  word 
I  have  brought  well  and  quickly,  and  I  will  re- 
turn with  your  answer  to  Kundu,  Chief  of  all 
this  land  and  people." 

"In  the  dark  men  catch  hold  of  one  another's 
clothes." 

Then  the  men  of  Moali  went  back  to  the  vil- 
lage to  consider  the  word  which  Mokani  had  given 
them ;  but  they  were  as  sheep  which  had  no  leader, 
for  there  was  no  man  of  great  standing  left 
amongst  them.  As  for  Koloani,  their  Chief,  his 
body  had  not  been  found  amongst  the  dead ;  and 
the  women  had  spoken  of  the  doing  of  Bokalobi, 
and  that  he  had  not  found  the  Chief  in  his  hut 
to  kill  him.  But  Koloani  was  not  in  the  village. 
And  now  Mokani,  the  Councillor  of  Kundu,  had 
told  them  he  was  slain  with  the  others,  so  that 
there  were  many  who  thought  it  must  be  so, 
and  that  his  body  had  been  carried  away  by 
Bokalobi  with  his  own  dead.  For  they  had  found 
in  the  Sabolo  of  Bama  the  Warrior  the  signs  of 
a  great  fight. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  23 

Yet  many  were  for  fighting  and  defending 
themselves  until  assistance  came,  for  messengers 
had  been  sent  to  all  the  other  villages  to  call  the 
people  together.  But  others  were  for  accepting 
Kundu  again  as  their  Chief — for  the  hearts  of 
the  people  had  never  been  black  against  him. 

And  so,  when  Bokalobi  again  blew  on  his  horn, 
and  Mokani  had  made  known  that  he  would  not 
wait  longer  for  their  answer,  the  people  in  the 
village,  seeing  that  they  would  not  stand  together 
to  resist  Kundu,  went  out  again  to  Mokani,  the 
Councillor,  and  Bokalobi,  the  General,  and  threw 
down  their  arms  before  them.  And  ten  of  the 
first  men  who  were  left  amongst  them  went  up 
with  Mokani  and  with  Bokalobi  to  cast  them- 
selves down  before  the  Chief,  Kundu,  and  declare 
the  submission  of  the  chief  village,  Moali. 

When  Kundu  saw  this  thing  his  heart  was 
glad,  and  he  spoke  to  the  ten  men  and  told  them 
to  rise;  then  he  gave  orders  that  all  those  who 
were  with  him  should  follow  him  down  to  the 
village  and  camp  outside  around  the  place  where 
the  spears  had  been  cast  down. 

But  Bokalobi  and  his  chosen  men  were  to  go 


24  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

with  the  Chief  to  the  Great  Ring  in  the  centre 
of  the  village  where  Council  would  be  held.  And 
Kundu  told  the  ten  men  to  go  before  him  and 
to  hold  their  hands  high  so  that  those  in  the 
village  should  know  that  it  was  Peace. 


CHAPTER  V 

"ONE  LINK  ONLY  SOUNDS  BECAUSE  OF 
ANOTHER" 

Now  it  had  happened  with  Koloani,  Chief  of 
Moali,  in  this  wise:  When  the  speaking  was 
finished  and  the  Council  at  an  end,  Koloani  had 
gone  straight  to  his  own  house,  and  had  lain 
down  upon  his  bed.  And  the  Chief  considered 
again  with  himself  all  that  which  had  been  spoken 
at  the  Council.  And  behold!  again  before  him 
a  vision  appeared  of  a  sudden  and  violent  rising 
of  waters  which  rushed  towards  him,  so  that  he 
started  up  from  his  bed.  And  Koloani  was  rest- 
less and  ill  at  ease,  and  paced  in  his  house  back 
and  forth.  And  he  sent  one  to  call  Jamba,  son 
of  Bama  the  Warrior,  and  Jamba  came  quickly 
to  the  Chief.  Then  Koloani  said,  "  Speak,  Son 
of  the  Fighting  Blood,  and  say  didst  thou  observe 
nought  else  of  stir  or  prepartion  at  the  village 
of  Nilisetsi,  which  thou  hadst  perchance  forgot- 
ten?" 


26  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

"  Wisdom  is  not  in  the  eye  but  in  the  head." 

And  Jamba  said,  "  O  Chief !  Nought  else  did 
I  see  or  hear  save  that  only  which  I  have  spoken 
to  the  Council.  This  only,  Great  One,  that  the 
girls  dallied  not  at  the  drawing  of  water  as  is 
their  way,  but  rather  hastened  as  if  one  had  said 
to  them  '  lose  no  time. ' ' 

Now  at  this  word,  even  at  this  small  saying 
of  the  young  man,  Koloani,  the  Chief,  began 
again  to  pace  in  the  hut  quickly  back  and  forth. 

Then  Koloani  said,  "  Return  now,  Jamba,  to 
thy  bed  and  sleep,  and  let  nought  disturb  thee." 

But  Jamba  said,  "  May  I  not  sleep  across  the 
entrance  to  thy  house,  my  Father?  For  in  my 
hut  I  feel  restless  and  confined,  and  the  air  is 
heavy  to  me  as  the  brooding  before  a  storm." 

And  this  saying,  again,  of  the  young  man  fell 
heavily  upon  the  ears  of  the  Chief.  And  Koloani 
said,  "  Nay,  Jamba,  but  tarry  here  while  I  go 
to  Bama,  thy  father,  for  I  would  speak  with  the 
Warrior  and  return  again." 

The  Chief  went  out,  and  Jamba  laid  himself 
upon  the  floor  of  the  house  to  rest  him. 

When  Koloani  the  Chief  came  to  the  Sabolo 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  27 

of  Bama  it  was  deep  into  the  night,  and  the  vil- 
lage slept.  Koloani  went  to  the  door  of  Bama's 
hut  and  touched  it,  and  immediately  one  sprang 
up  inside  and  grasped  his  spears  and  called,  say- 
ing, "  Who  is  there  ?  " 

And  the  Chief  said,  "  It  is  I,  thou  ever-wakeful 
one — Koloani — and  I  must  speak  with  thee  again, 
even  if  thou  sayest  that  ants  are  in  my  brain,  for 
I  cannot  rest." 

And  Bama  the  Warrior  came  out  into  the  court 
before  his  hut  and  said,  "  Nay,  my  Lord !  for 
art  thou  not  of  the  Blood  of  Chiefs  and  a  Leader 
of  Men?  See" — and  Bama,  Hero  of  many 
Fights,  pointed  with  his  spear  before  him  and 
around — "  thy  people  sleep  in  Peace,  for  they 
know  that  Koloani  is  as  an  Eagle  watching  from 
a  height,  and  is  not  one  to  be  deceived."  And 
Bama  had  his  spear  and  his  club  with  him. 

And  the  Chief  said,  "  May  it  be  so,  Bama ! 
And  even  as  the  eagle,  when  the  hunters  are  about, 
is  restless  on  his  rock,  looking  ever  to  this  side 
and  that,  and  seeing  nothing  is  yet  the  more 
alarmed,  for  that  he  knows  not  from  which  side, 
nor  how  soon,  the  attack  will  come,  so  it  is  with 


28  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

me  this  night.  Jamba,  thy  son,  is  in  my  house, 
for  I  sent  for  him,  and  have  spoken  with  him 
again  on  the  word  which  he  brought  us  this  day. 
And  I  bade  him  wait  in  my  hut  until  I  had  seen 
thee  and  returned;  for  the  youth,  also,  is  ill  at 
ease  in  that  he  rested  this  day  at  Nilisetsi,  the 
Place  of  Kundu,  and  the  Evil  Spirit  of  that  place 
disturbs  him  so  that  he  cannot  sleep.  Now  Bama, 
Man  of  Might  and  Wisdom,  hear  me.  A  rest- 
less bed  is  for  a  sick  man  only !  Late  though  the 
hour,  it  is  in  my  mind  to  visit  my  uncle,  Chuaani, 
and  to  talk  with  him  upon  these  things  which 
concern  us.  The  night  will  soon  turn,  and  be- 
fore the  break  of  day,  going  quickly,  as  is  my 
humour,  we  will  be  at  his  village  Tlapakun.  It 
is  my  purpose  to  take  the  youth,  thy  son,  with 
me ;  it  will  be  a  delight  to  him,  and  for  me,  com- 
pany. Do  thou  and  Manok  in  the  morning  even 
as  the  Council  decided,  and  I  will  return  again 
at  noon.  Now  remain  thou  in  peace,  for  I  go." 

And  Bama  the  Warrior  said,  "  I  have  heard, 
Koloani,  Father  of  the  People.  Chuaani,  the 
Hairy  One,  will  be  pleased  at  thy  coming  and  will 
put  greater  will  into  these  things  we  must  do. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  29 

And  the  boy,  Jamba,  is  sprightly  and  of  good 
courage,  and  may  be  of  use  to  attend  thee  on 
the  way.  Let  me  go  with  thee  to  without  the 
village,  and  I  will  return,  and  to-morrow  it  will 
be  done  even  as  we  have  said." 


CHAPTER  VI 

"HE  WILL  NOT  EAT  OUT  OF  HIS  CHILDREN'S 
DISHES" 

KOLOANI,  the  Chief,  returned  to  his  house  with 
Bama  the  Warrior,  and  they  found  there  Jamba 
and  with  him  Gutambi  the  Hunter,  who  was  not 
a  man  of  Moali,  but  a  visitor  who  slept  at  the 
Sabolo  of  the  Chief.  And  Gutambi,  the  Hunter, 
and  Bama  the  Warrior  were  as  brothers,  and 
they  loved  each  other.  Now  Jamba  felt  happy 
and  proud  when  he  heard  what  was  in  the  mind 
of  the  Chief  to  do.  And  they  set  forth  imme- 
diately. And  Gutambi  the  Hunter,  also,  taking 
his  spear,  accompanied  them  without  the  village. 

When  Bama  and  Gutambi  had  gone  with  the 
Chief  a  little  way  upon  the  road  they  bade  him 
farewell  and  returned  to  the  village;  and  Bama 
asked  Gutambi  to  go  with  him  and  sleep  in  his 
hut. 

Now  Bokalobi,  the  General  of  Kundu,  with  his 
chosen  men  had  passed  in  before  them  on  the  main 
entrance  to  the  village,  and  Bama  and  Gutambi 
80 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  31 

knew  it  not;  yet  before  they  came  to  his  Sabolo, 
Bama  the  Warrior  felt  a  strangeness,  and  grasped 
his  club  and  spear,  and  spoke  to  Gutambi. 

And  then  there  was  a  movement  about  the 
place,  and  the  dogs  barked.  Then  a  woman 
shrieked.  And  Bama  ran,  and  when  he  came 
to  his  Sabolo  he  moved  along  in  the  greater  dark- 
ness of  the  wall,  and  Gutambi  followed  closely 
upon  him.  And  when  Bama  came  to  the  hut 
of  Touga,  his  firstborn,  lo!  there  stood  five  be- 
fore the  hut,  and  one,  whose  voice  was  strange, 
spake,  saying,  "  Touga  lies  here;  what  of  Bama?  " 

And  at  these  words  Bama  the  Warrior,  Man 
of  Mighty  Heart,  sprang  forward,  and  Gutambi 
the  Hunter  sprang  forward  with  him,  against  the 
five.  And  it  has  been  told  what  happened  at  that 
Bloody  Fight. 

But  Koloani  knew  none  of  these  things. 


CHAPTER  VII 

"WATCHER  OF  THE  MOON,  BEWARE  OF  THE 
DARKNESS" 

So  Koloani,  the  Chief,  and  Jamba,  son  of  Bama, 
went  on  their  way  quickly;  and  before  the  day 
broke  they  came  into  Tlapakun,  the  Place  of  the 
Black  Rock,  which  was  the  village  of  Chuaani, 
the  uncle  of  Koloani.  And  the  Chief  and  Jamba 
entered  by  the  main  gate  into  the  Sabolo  of 
Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One.  And  Jamba  called  one 
forth  and  said,  "  Make  known  to  Chuaani,  the 
Head  of  the  Village,  that  Koloani  the  Chief  is 
here  to  visit  him."  And  it  was  done  so.  In  a 
moment  Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One,  came  out  of 
his  hut  and  greeted  the  Chief  Koloani.  He  was 
greatly  surprised  at  this  sudden  visit,  and  that 
the  Chief  had  come  all  unattended  save  only  by 
Jamba,  the  son  of  Bama,  yet  a  very  young  man. 
And  Chuaani  entreated  the  Chief  that  he  would 
enter  into  his  hut  and  rest. 

Chuaani,  though  of  an  age  with  Koloani,  yet 
was  the  brother  of  Koloani 's  mother;  and  he  was 
32 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  33 

a  hairy  man,  and  therefore  called  Chuaani,  which 
in  that  language  means  baboon,  and  he  had,  in 
the  eye  of  the  stranger,  such  an  appearance. 

And  Koloani  said,  "  I  am  tired  and  will  rest, 
even  as  thou  sayest,  my  good  uncle.  There  is 
that  of  importance  on  which  I  must  talk  with 
thee,  but  now  the  night  air  presses  on  my  eyelids 
and  I  will  sleep  for  a  little  while.  At  the  rising 
of  the  sun  call,  I  pray  thee,  thy  Old  Men  and 
Councillors  together  at  the  Place  of  Meeting,  and 
when  all  is  ready  let  not  thought  for  my  rest 
hinder  thee,  but  call  me  straightway.  And  thou, 
Jamba,  good  youth,  art  tired  also,  for  thou  hast 
travelled  far  this  day  and  night.  Take  now  thy 
blanket  until  I  send  for  thee  again."  Then  Kolo- 
ani, the  Chief,  entered  into  the  hut  of  Chuaani, 
his  uncle,  and  slept. 

"  The  doctor  does  not  doctor  himself." 

So  at  the  rising  of  the  sun  Chuaani,  the  Hairy 
One,  made  round  of  the  sabolos  of  his  Old  Men 
and  Councillors  and  spoke  with  each,  saying, 
"  The  Chief  is  here  and  has  that  to  say  which 
is  of  great  concern,  and  would  hold  council  with 


34  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

us  now;  come  then,  brother,  to  the  Khothla  (the 
Place  of  Council)  when  thou  art  ready."  And 
Chuaani  went  quickly  about. 

Now  when  those  who  had  been  called  had  all 
come,  Chuaani  went  again  to  his  hut  and  entered, 
and  spoke  to  Koloani,  and  awoke  him,  and  said, 
"  Be  not  displeased,  for  it  is  as  thou  commandedst 
me,  O  Chief.  And  now  the  Old  Men  are  come 
to  the  Khothla  to  hear  thy  word." 

And  the  Chief  arose  and  said,  "  It  is  well,  Man 
of  Our  House!  and  though  my  sinews  yet  are 
strung,  sleep  has  cooled  my  brain.  Have  water 
brought,  I  pray  thee,  for  the  dews  of  night  are 
still  upon  mine  eyelids."  And  Chuaani  brought 
water  in  a  bowl  with  his  own  hands.  And  Kolo- 
ani came  out  into  the  courtyard  before  the  hut, 
and  when  he  had  washed  he  raised  himself  up 
and  looked  upon  the  face  of  the  Sun  and  drew 
a  deep  breath.  Then  he  turned  and  looked  to- 
wards his  own  village  of  Moali.  And  when  he 
had  stood  for  a  moment  thus  he  beckoned  to 
Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One,  and  they  passed  out  to 
the  Place  of  Council. 

Now  the  day  was  fair  and  beautiful,  and  peace 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  35 

was  in  the  song  of  the  birds  upon  the  trees  and 
in  the  lowing  of  the  cattle,  and  in  the  voice  of 
the  women  and  the  children  as  they  came  forth 
from  their  huts.  And  the  Chief  thought  upon 
the  simple  words  of  Jamba,  son  of  Bama,  which 
he  had  brought  to  them.  And  he  thought :  Surely 
a  hare  has  rustled  the  grass,  and  we  are  prepar- 
ing for  a  lion.  And  the  Chief  considered  with 
himself  what  he  should  say  to  the  Council. 

But  for  Koloani,  the  Chief,  this  day  was  to 
be  the  day  of  his  greatest  grief,  and  his  head 
would  be  bowed  in  the  sorrow  of  a  broken  heart 
because  of  that  which  had  happened;  but  the  Chief 
knew  not  yet  of  this  happening. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

"IF  YOU  DESPISE  THE  DOCTOR,  DESPISE  THE 
SICKNESS  ALSO" 

KOLOANI,  when  he  had  come  to  the  Place  of  Coun- 
cil with  Chuaani,  and  had  received  their  greeting 
and  greeted  them  again,  spake  unto  the  Old  Men 
and  Councillors,  and  told  them  of  those  things 
which  had  been  spoken  at  his  own  village  at 
Moali. 

And  Koloani  said,  "  The  Spirits  of  our  Fathers 
which  have  gone  before  us  are  troubled,  and  their 
warnings  are  in  our  ears.  Even  as  it  is  with 
the  wild  game  which,  while  yet  the  storm  is  afar 
and  cannot  be  seen,  is  warned  of  its  approach  and 
takes  heed  for  itself  how  it  shall  meet  it.  The 
coming  together  of  the  Warriors  and  the  Young 
Men  at  Moali  will  be  a  sign  to  those  who  would 
come  against  us  that  we  have  read  the  feeling 
of  their  hearts  towards  us,  and  are  not  unmindful 
of  these  things." 

Now  it  happened  that  Chuaani  and  those  with 
him  were  not  amazed  at  these  sayings  of  the 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  37 

Chief  Koloani,  nor  were  they  surprised.  But  they 
looked  at  each  other,  and  there  were  noddings  of 
the  head. 

And  Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One,  spoke  to  the 
Chief,  and  said,  "Thy  words,  Koloani,  Born  in 
Wisdom,  are  as  seed  fallen  on  broken  ground,  for 
even  yesterday  were  we  met  together  to  discuss 
this  thing,  and  it  came  about  in  this  wise :  Ma- 
kalokolo,  as  thou  knowest,  Chief,  has  fame 
throughout  the  land  as  a  man  of  deep  learning 
and  wisdom,  to  whom  the  Spirits  of  our  Fathers 
speak  as  amongst  themselves;  so  that  when,  in 
passing  on  a  journey  two  days  since,  he  ap- 
peared in  our  midst,  we  made  haste  to  welcome 
him,  and  so  entreated  him  that  he  stayed  with 
us  the  night  to  sleep.  Now,  while  in  the  eve- 
ning we  sat  together  talking  of  many  things,  it 
chanced  that  Makalokolo  looked  towards  Taban- 
dini,  the  Rugged  Hills,  and  lo!  the  Horns  of 
the  Young  Moon,  whose  sign  is  in  trouble,  ap- 
peared to  clasp  the  point  of  the  highest  rock  above 
Moali,  thy  House,  O  Chief!  And  when  the 
Learned  Man  looked  earnestly,  we  all  looked  and 
saw  this  Sign,  but  could  not  read  it.  Then  Ma- 


38  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

kalokolo  brought  forth  his  pouch,  of  the  skin  of 
the  bush-buck,  and  opened  it,  and  threw  out  upon 
the  ground  before  him  his  Charms  and  Letters — 
the  chosen  knuckles  and  bones  of  animals ;  strange 
stones;  teeth,  shells,  and  rare  pieces  of  wood, 
to  which  the  power  has  been  given,  and  of  deep 
meaning  to  the  learned.  And  Makalokolo  said 
not  a  word,  but  looked  long  upon  his  Charms — 
upon  the  way  they  had  fallen  at  his  first  throw- 
ing out.  Then  took  he  two  of  the  Charms  from 
the  others  and  placed  them,  as  they  had  fallen, 
apart ;  and  the  one  was  a  large,  flat  knuckle-bone 
as  of  an  animal  of  strength,  and  the  other  was 
a  smooth-pointed  stone  of  two  colours. 

"  And  Makalokolo  gathered  up  the  other 
Charms  and  Letters,  every  one  of  them,  into  his 
two  hands.  His  eyes  were  open,  but  he  looked 
not  upon  us,  neither  saw  he  us,  but  That  he  saw 
was  in  his  mind.  And  he  spoke  rapidly  many 
words,  and  chanted ;  but  the  meaning  of  his  words 
we  knew  not,  for  many  were  in  a  strange  tongue. 
And  when  he  had  finished  he  threw  up  his  hands, 
and  the  charms  and  cunning  bones  fell  before 
him  again. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  39 

"  And  now,  as  before,  the  Man  of  Wisdom 
looked  long  and  closely  upon  the  manner  in  which 
they  had  fallen  and  the  placing  of  them.  Then 
he  took  the  two  which  he  had  put  apart  and 
stood  them  again  in  their  places  as  they  had  fallen 
at  the  first  throwing,  that  he  might  read  the  mes- 
sage which  had  been  sent  to  him. 

"  And  now  Makalokolo  moved  his  hands  over 
the  Charms,  and  some  he  touched  and  some  he 
put  away  as  having  no  meaning.  And  he  took 
two  shells  which  were  from  the  Great  Salt  Water, 
one  in  each  hand,  and  held  them  tightly  for  a 
while  before  he  put  them  back,  and  then  he 
moved  a  piece  of  hard  black  wood,  and  under- 
neath it  lay  the  tooth  of  a  serpent.  And  when 
he  had  sat  for  awhile  the  face  of  Makalokolo 
grew  dark  and  he  was  troubled,  and  he 
spoke,  but  his  eyes  moved  not  from  the  ground 
before  him.  And  these  are  the  words  he 
said: 

' '  Chuaani !  We  have  eaten  from  one  bowl 
and  drunk  from  one  cup,  and  thy  people  have 
been  kind  to  me,  so  that  my  heart  is  with  thee 
and  thy  House,  Now,  therefore,  hearken,  and 


40  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

treat  not  ray  words  lightly.  The  heavens  are 
full  of  signs  to  him  whose  eyes  are  open,  and 
from  the  Moon  learn  we  many  things.  And  the 
Great  Spirits  of  our  Fathers  watch  over  the  Peo- 
ple, to  guard  them  from  the  Pit  and  from  the 
Serpent.  But  to  few  is  it  given  to  read  the  Signs 
aright.  If  a  snake  cross  your  path  ye  will  turn 
back;  and  if  a  bee  fly  on  before  ye  take  it  as 
happy  omen  for  your  journey.  But  such  as  these 
are  as  language  which  cometh  to  the  babe  un- 
sought ;  by  study  and  deep  thought  is  little  known 
to  the  people.  And  ye,  Old  Men  and  Wise  in 
Council,  what  read  ye  in  the  Y  <ung  Moon  this 
night?  Was  there  nought  of  sign  concerning  ye 
when,  as  ye  looked,  the  angry  horns  rested  on 
Tabandini?  Now  listen  and  interpret  for  your- 
selves, for  I  know  not  the  concerns  of  your  Peo- 
ple, neither  can  I  put  the  meaning  upon  what  is 
shown.  I  see  a  roused  wolf,  and  he  ranges  far 
alone.  Moali  beware !  There  is  what  comes  from 
the  Salt  Water,  but  it  is  not  open  to  me ' — and 
Makalokolo  took  again  the  shells  in  his  hand  and 
held  them  closely  to  him,  and  then,  as  though 
in  anger,  threw  them  to  one  side — 'White  Men 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  41 

are  concerned  in  this.  This  that  crosses  the  path 
of  the  wolf  is  of  two  colours;  read  it  ye  who 
can.  There  is  bitterness  hidden,  or  a  mighty 
shield  before  you — dark,  dark!  There  is,  my 
brothers,  confusion  in  all;  and  because  I  know 
not  the  concerns  of  your  people  the  smaller  signs 
are  dark  to  my  eyes.  Anger  is  warmth  which 
lights  itself  and  the  Obstinate  man  will  see  by 
the  Bloodstains.' 

"  And  Makalokolo  gathered  up  his  Charms  and 
Symbols  into  his  pouch  again,  and  when  he  had 
risen  he  said,  'The  prickly  pear  has  thorns,  but 
he  who  has  the  will  eats  of  the  fruit.'  And  then, 
Koloani,  Child  of  the  Great,  we  should  have 
asked  the  Wise  Man  further,  but  because  he  was 
a  stranger  here  he  would  not.  And  after  we  had 
spoken  much  together  we  went  each  to  his  own 
hut  to  consider  with  ourselves  what  might  be  the 
Meaning  of  the  Signs. 

"And  yesterday,  Chief,  we  held  council  to- 
gether, and  we  turned  not  to  any  other  thing 
from  sunrise  until  dark — but  Makalokolo,  our 
guest,  had  left  us  in  the  early  morn.  And  from 
our  reasoning,  Koloani,  Chief  of  thy  House,  we 


42  AN  ETHIOPIAN. SAGA 

said  that  certain  of  us  should  even  this  day  visit 
thee  at  Moali  and  lay  before  thee  also  the  word 
of  Makalokolo  the  Wizard,  and  that  which  he 
had  done." 


CHAPTER  IX 

"A  GREAT  ONE  MUST  HAVE  A  LONG  HEART" 
Now  when  Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One,  had  finished 
speaking,  Koloani,  the  Chief,  sprang  to  his  feet 
and  was  excited,  and  raised  his  arm  and  said, 
"  Now  surely  are  our  Fathers  greatly  concerned 
for  us.  The  waters  rise  quickly  and  we  sit  here, 
as  women,  to  talk.  Chuaani  and  ye,  my  brothers, 
ye  have  already  spoken  on  this  thing,  and  ye  have 
heard  my  words.  The  sun  is  high  over  the  hills, 
and  the  messenger  from  my  council  at  Moali  will 
be  close  at  hand  to  call  ye  to  arms.  Wait  not  f  or 
him;  send  forth  now  the  summons  to  your  War- 
riors and  to  your  Young  Men  that  they  prepare 
themselves  quickly.  It  is  my  Word.  And  I  will 
return  to  Moali  and  make  that  place  ready,  and 
will  take  counsel  with  Manok  and  with  Bama 
what  our  action  shall  be.  Farewell,  my  brothers. 
Nay,  hinder  me  not;  already  I  see  the  dancing 
plumes  and  the  flashing  of  spears." 

Koloani,  the  Chief,  had  spoken  these  words, 
and  even  while  speaking  had  taken  meat  in  his 
43 


44  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

hands  and  bread  for  the  road  to  return  at  once 
to  his  house,  when,  of  a  sudden,  there  was  a 
commotion  in  the  Gate.  And  the  Chief  said, 
"  It  is  surely  the  messenger  from  Moali ;  but  what 
means  this  noise?  " 

And  in  a  moment  there  appeared  in  the  Place 
of  Council  one  in  great  distress,  whose  face  was 
made  white  with  clay,  beating  his  breast  and  cry- 
ing "  Woe,  woe !  Arise !  Revenge !  Woe,  woe !  " 
And  the  people  followed  after  him  and  gathered 
together  about  the  Place  of  Council. 

Now  when  he  who  ran  in  this  wise  had  come 
into  the  midst  of  the  Khothla,  and  saw  Koloani, 
the  Chief,  he  stood  for  a  moment  as  in  terror; 
then,  crying  aloud,  he  cast  himself  down  before 
the  Chief.  And  Koloani  saw  the  man,  that  he 
was  from  Moali,  and  the  heart  of  the  Chief  sank 
within  him;  and  he  gave  orders  and  the  people 
were  sent  away  again  to  their  places  and  to  their 
work. 

"  A  man  does  not  use  one  finger  to  take  out  an 
arrow." 

And  when  the  people  had  gone  away  Koloani, 
the  Chief,  sat  down ;  and  Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One, 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  45 

and  his  Old  Men  and  Councillors  sat  down  also 
in  their  places.  Then  the  Chief  spoke  gruffly,  and 
said  to  him  on  the  ground,  "  Speak,  and  speak 
quickly,  Man  of  Ours!  One  minds  not  so  much 
the  sharp  and  sudden  stab,  but  the  slow  cutting 
of  a  knife  is  torture.  What  is  thy  news?  " 

TKen  he  who  had  come  crying  woe  raised  him- 
self and  stood  before  the  Chief.  And  because  of 
the  words  of  Koloani  he  thought  not  further  on 
how  he  should  begin,  but  said,  "  The  Enemy 
came  in  the  night,  and  has  slain  the  Greatest 
amongst  us,  O  Chief.  Manok,  old  and  wise,  is 
dead,  and  all  his  House  with  him.  Bama  the 
Warrior  is  slain  with  his  sons,  and  Gutambi  the 
Mighty  Hunter  lies  before  his  hut.  At  thy  sabolo, 
Mighty  Chief,  only  the  women  are  left  to  mourn, 
for  the  Evil  Ones  looked  not  upon  the  youth  and 
innocence  of  thy  sons,  but  slew  them  also.  Woe ! 
Woe!" 

And  with  eyes  cast  down,  not  daring  to  look 
upon  the  face  of  the  Chief,  the  man  told  of  all 
those  Great  Ones  who  had  been  slain  in  the  night. 
Of  the  men  who  were  killed  and  the  young  men 
slain  in  the  night  the  number  was  eighty  and 


46  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

seven.  And  these  were  the  First  Men  of  the 
Land.  And  he  said,  "  Thy  people  mourn  also  for 
thee,  O  Chief,  for  they  say,  '  Koloani,  our  Father, 
is  slain  also,  and  the  Evil  Ones  have  carried  him 
away.'  "  And  he  said,  "  Thy  people  lie  in  the 
dust  and  moan,  O  Chief,  and  there  is  none  to 
lead  them." 

Now,  of  the  Old  Men  and  Councillors  at  that 
place  there  was  not  one  who  raised  his  head. 
They  lay  upon  the  ground  and  beat  their  fore- 
heads upon  the  ground,  and  took  dust  in  their 
hands  and  placed  it  on  their  heads.  And  Chuaani, 
also,  the  Hairy  One,  threw  dust  upon  his  head. 
The  Chief,  Koloani,  moved  not;  but  he  had  grown 
very  small,  and  it  was  as  if  the  blow  was  too 
great  for  him.  Only  at  the  last  words  of  the 
man  Koloani,  the  Chief,  raised  his  head,  and  like 
unto  a  very  old  man  he  stood  upon  his  feet. 

And  the  Voice  of  the  Chief  was  choked  in  his 
throat.  But  now  he  stretched  out  his  arms  and 
stood  upright  and  spoke  to  Chuaani  and  to  the 
others,  and  said,  "  Arise,  my  brothers !  there  is 
work  to  do.  Look  not  yet  to  me,  for  my  eyes 
see  not  before  me,  but  behind.  Manok,  faithful 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  47 

and  wise ;  Bama,  my  right  arm ;  and  my  children 
also.    My  sons !    My  sons !  " 

And  the  Chief  turned  sharply  upon  the  mes- 
senger, and  his  eyes  flashed  like  bright  spears, 
and  he  grasped  the  man  and  shook  him,  and  the 
fury  was  upon  him.  And  the  Chief  cried, 
hoarsely,  "  Liar !  Liar !  It  is  not  true.  Speak ! 
It  is  false.  Whence  come  you?  Who  are  you? 
Speak !  "  And  those  who  were  there  feared  for 
the  man's  life  in  the  hands  of  the  Chief.  But 
now  Koloani  drew  back,  and  the  man  sank  upon 
the  ground  and  said,  "  Alas,  O  Chief !  It  is  true. 
I  am  thy  servant  Raasa,  son  of  Kolo,  who  dresses 
hides;  and  at  daybreak  Kolo,  my  father,  and 
others,  who  are  men  of  years,  came  together,  and 
when  it  was  seen  that  the  Evil  Ones  had  gone, 
messengers  were  sent  out  to  all  the  villages  to 
tell  what  had  been  done,  and  to  call  the  people 
together  before  the  enemy  might  return  again. 
And  my  words  were  to  Chuaani  and  the  people 
of  this  village." 


CHAPTER  X 

"TO  KEEP  HIS  OWN  SECRETS  HE  TALKS  OF 
OTHERS" 

WHEN  Raasa,  the  messenger,  had  finished  speak- 
ing, Koloani,  the  Chief,  went  out  from  the  Kho- 
thla  and  Chuaani  followed  him,  and  when  they 
had  come  to  Chuaani's  hut  the  Chief  said, 
"  Arouse  the  youth,  Jamba,  and  send  him  to  me, 
but  tell  him  nought.  I  will  return  with  him  to 
Moali.  Gather  thou  thy  Warriors  and  Young 
Men  and  follow  quickly  after  us — that  snake  swal- 
low not  snake."  And  the  meaning  of  the  Chief 
was  that  a  greater  evil  follow  not  upon  the  first. 
And  Koloani  said,  "  We  must  act  now.  We  shall 
mourn  for  ever." 

Then  when  Chuaani  had  aroused  Jamba,  the 
son  of  Bama,  and  brought  him  to  the  Chief, 
Koloani  said,  "  Come,  Son  of  the  Warrior,  we 
will  return."  And  Chuaani  called  two  of  his 
men  and  told  them  to  go  with  the  Chief  also, 
following  on  behind.  Then  they  set  forth  im- 
48 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  49 

mediately.  And  Jamba  looked  at  the  Chief  and 
wondered  within  himself,  but  he  would  not  speak. 

When  they  were  without  the  village  and  on 
the  way,  Koloani  called  Jamba  to  his  side,  and 
began  in  gentle  wise  to  tell  the  youth  of  the  word 
which  Raasa,  the  messenger,  had  brought  to  them. 
The  Chief  spoke  of  Manok,  and  of  those  others 
who  had  fallen.  And  the  Chief  spoke  of  his  own 
sons;  and  Jamba  choked  as  he  heard  and  knew 
that  his  father,  Bama,  the  Mighty  Warrior,  and 
his  brothers  also  were  dead,  for  they  could  not 
be  alive  when  the  Sons  of  the  Chief  were  slain. 

And  Koloani,  the  Chief,  saw  that  Jamba  knew 
this  thing,  for  he  asked  not  once  concerning  his 
family.  And  Koloani  spoke  kindly  to  the  youth; 
and  then  he  spoke  in  otherwise  of  the  doers  of 
this  evil,  and  caused  the  hot  blood  to  mount. 
And  then  he  raised  his  arm  and  shook  his  spear, 
and  Jamba  also  raised  his  arm  and  shook  his 
spear.  And  they  shouted  aloud,  "  Revenge !  "  and 
sprang  forward.  And  so  Jamba  heard  of  these 
things. 


CHAPTER  XI 

"BE  SILENT,  TREE;  DON'T  LISTEN  TO  THE 
NOISE  OF  HATCHETS" 

WHILE  the  Chief  and  Jamba  and  the  two  who 
were  with  them  were  approaching  Moali,  but  were 
yet  a  good  way  off,  they  saw  men  coming  to- 
wards them,  and  soon  they  could  tell  that  there 
were  five  men,  who  carried,  besides  their  spears 
and  clubs,  bundles,  as  of  blankets  or  goods.  And 
they  were  running. 

And  when  Jamba  from  afar  saw  that  they 
were  young  men  from  Moali,  he  spoke  to  the 
Chief ;  wondering  to  see  them  carrying  things  and 
yet  running.  But  Koloani  said  nothing;  in  his 
heart  he  had  been  afraid  of  this  thing,  for  he 
judged  that  the  Enemy  would,  surely,  return 
quickly  to  his  village. 

And  the  heart  of  Koloani,  the  Chief,  was  like 
a  stone.  And  he  spoke  to  the  men  with  him  and 
to  Jamba,  and  they  all  stood  still  and  waited  until 
the  Five  came  up. 

50 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  51 

Now  when  the  five  young  men  from  Moali 
saw  that  Koloani  stood  before  them  they  were 
amazed,  and  gazed  upon  the  Chief,  but  could  say 
nothing.  And  Koloani  knew  that  they  had  be- 
lieved him  dead. 

The  Chief  spoke  to  them  and  said,  "  Who  is 
First  amongst  you? "  And  one  stepped  forward 
and  said,  "  I  am  Holpa,  O  Chief !  son  of  Kho- 
mobi,  who  tends  thy  cattle."  And  Koloani  said, 
"  Speak,  Holpa,  and  shortly,  for  the  day  passes. 
I  have  heard  the  word  of  Raasa,  son  of  Kolo, 
who  was  sent  to  Chuaani  to  tell  of  the  slaying 
in  the  night.  Say  on." 

"  The    guinea-fowl    dies,    then    the    eggs    get 
rotten." 

Then  Holpa  threw  down  his  blankets  and  his 
spears  and  his  sticks,  and  stood  humbly  before 
the  Chief,  and  said,  "  O  Chief!  What  can  I  say? 
Thy  people  believed  thee  dead,  and  there  was 
none  to  lead  them,  for  the  Heads  of  the  Village 
were  slain  and  lay  about  in  their  places. 

"  And  Kundu  and  his  army  appeared,  saying 
that  thou  wert  dead,  O  Chief.  And  the  people 
have  cast  down  their  spears  before  him.  And  we 


52  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

only,  this  few,  being  young  men,  came  away  with 
our  spears,  and  said,  '  We  will  go  to  Chuaani  and 
will  wait  awhile,  for  our  hearts  are  against  this 
doing.'  " 

Now  who  can  tell  of  the  distress  of  Koloani, 
the  Chief,  at  this  hearing?  Jamba  and  all  those 
about  him  cast  themselves  down  upon  the  road. 
But  Koloani  was  a  Chief,  and  a  Leader  of  Men; 
and  after  he  had  stood  for  a  short  while  in  silence 
he  spoke  to  Holpa  and  told  him  to  rise,  and  the 
Four  with  him,  and  to  take  again  their  spears  and 
their  blankets. 

"  Crippled  first  does  not  mean  die  first." 

And  Koloani  spoke  to  the  Five  and  told  them 
to  go  off  quickly,  each  in  a  different  direction, 
and  to  carry  the  news  to  his  people;  to  tell  what 
they  had  seen,  and  that  the  Chief  was  living  and 
would,  surely,  be  avenged  upon  Kundu.  And  the 
people  were  to  prepare  themselves,  for  Koloani 
was  with  Chuaani,  his  uncle,  at  his  village,  and 
was  making  ready. 

And  Koloani  waited  not  to  choose  his  words, 
but  sent  them  off  quickly,  for  he  knew  that  Kundu 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  53 

would  not  delay  but  would  send  his  word  imme- 
diately throughout  the  land. 

Now  when  the  Five  had  gone  off,  each  his  own 
way,  the  Chief  spoke  to  the  two  men  of  Tlapakun, 
and  said,  "  Hearken  now,  ye  men  of  Chuaani. 
Ye  have  heard  that  which  has  been  told.  Kundu 
and  his  army  are  at  Moali.  Continue  ye  now, 
therefore,  towards  Moali,  and,  as  ye  are  men 
of  years  and  wisdom,  so  do  that  ye  come  again 
to  me  at  the  house  of  Chuaani  in  the  early  morn 
with  knowledge  of  that  which  is  done  at  Moali 
this  day."  And  they  said,  "  We  will  do  even 
as  the  Chief  has  said."  And  they  saluted  the 
Chief  and  went  their  way  towards  Moali. 

Then  Koloani  looked  towards  the  young  man, 
Jamba,  and  Jamba  bowed  his  head  before  the 
Chief ;  and  the  Chief  turned  again  towards  Tlapa- 
kun, the  village  of  Chuaani,  and  began  to  return 
to  that  place.  And  Jamba  followed  behind  the 
Chief;  and  their  feet  were  heavy,  and  there  was 
no. life  in  them.  So  they  moved  slowly  on  their 
way. 


CHAPTER  XII 

"  WE  ARE  WANDERING  IN  THE  BELLY  OF  A 
BULLOCK" 

WHEN  Koloani,  the  Chief,  and  Jamba,  son  of 
Bama,  had  returned  some  way,  they  met  men  of 
the  village  of  Tlapakun  coming  towards  them. 
These  were  Young  Men  and  Warriors  with  their 
spears  and  their  clubs ;  and  some  had  shields  made 
of  raw  hide  which  would  turn  a  spear. 

And  they  were  in  companies  of  tens  and  twen- 
ties, and  then  in  larger  companies;  and  their 
movement  was  like  a  dance,  but  they  came  swiftly 
on.  Before  each  company  moved  a  man  who 
chanted  a  war  song,  and  those  behind  him  also 
joined  in  the  chant;  and  he  in  front  sometimes 
sprang  high  in  the  air  and  clashed  his  spears 
upon  his  shield;  then,  in  a  while,  another  from 
the  company  sprang  forward  and  took  up  the 
song  and  led;  and  he  who  had  been  in  front 
danced  where  he  stood  and  joined  the  others  as 
they  came  up. 

When  Koloani,  the  Chief,  came  near  to  the 
04 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  55 

first  of  these  companies  be  held  up  his  spear,  and 
at  the  sign  the  leader  of  the  company  stood  still 
and  raised  his  spear,  and  those  behind  him  moved 
not  forward  but  continued  to  dance  and  sing  as 
before,  stamping  hard  upon  the  ground. 

And  when  the  Chief  saw  these  warriors  danc- 
ing, and  the  greater  companies  coming  on  after, 
and  heard  the  words  of  the  War  Song  which 
they  chanted,  his  eyes  lit  up  again  and  his  step 
grew  light.  And  Jamba,  Son  of  the  Warrior, 
also  grasped  his  spears  tightly  and  felt  his  blood 
run  hot;  and  Jamba  wished  that  the  Chief  would 
turn  again  and  lead  them,  even  so,  against  the 
men  of  Nilisetsi  who  had  brought  them  so  great 
evil. 

But  Koloani  said  to  the  Leader  of  the  Com- 
pany: "Turn  again,  Man  of  Ours;  the  enemy 
has  fallen  upon  Moali,  my  village,  and  has  taken 
it  by  cunning.  Now  return  we  to  the  Place  of 
Black  Rocks,  and  there  we  shall  make  our  prepara- 
tions quickly." 

And  Koloani  gave  orders  that  a  man  be  sent 
with  this  word  to  each  of  the  companies  which 
were  coming  on,  So  all  the  Warriors  and  Young 


56  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

Men  who  had  gone  out  returned  again  with  the 
Chief  to  Tlapakun,  the  Place  of  Black  Rocks. 

Now  when  the  Chief  and  Jamba  and  the  others 
came  again  to  the  village  of  Chuaani,  the  day 
was  far  advanced;  and  Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One, 
when  he  saw  the  Chief  approaching,  went  out 
to  meet  him.  And  Koloani  spoke  to  Chuaani  by 
the  way,  and  told  him  what  he  had  heard  con- 
cerning the  village  of  Moali,  and  what  he  had 
done  with  the  Five  Young  Men,  and  the  Two. 

And  Koloani  said,  "  There  is  much  to  be  done, 
Chuaani,  Man  of  My  House,  and  first  as  con- 
cerns thine  own  safety  and  thy  village.  Call  again 
thy  Old  Men  and  Councillors  and  consider  this 
thing.  But  for  me,  I  have  been  sore  buffeted 
this  day  so  that  my  head  is  numb  and  there  is 
nothing  clear  before  my  eyes.  Take  thou,  there- 
fore, the  direction  of  all  things  until  I  come  again 
refreshed  to  the  Council." 

And  Chuaani  led  the  Chief  at  once  to  his  sabolo, 
and  Jamba  also  went  in  with  them.  The  Chief 
cast  himself  down  upon  a  mat,  and  Chuaani  went 
out  again  to  the  Place  of  Council. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

"THE  DOG  THAT  ALWAYS  LOOKS  DOWN 
STEALS  FAT  FROM  THE  POTS" 

Now  Jamba,  the  son  of  Bama,  loved  a  maiden 
of  the  House  of  Hangi,  whose  name  was  Mama- 
lubi.  But  the  hand  of  the  maiden,  while  she 
was  yet  a  child,  had  been  promised  by  her  father 
to  one  Sopanto,  a  man  of  Kundu;  and  so,  be- 
cause that  the  maiden  loved  Jamba  and  did  not 
love  Sopanto,  there  was  vexation  in  this  thing. 

Sopanto  was  a  man  counted  very  wealthy.  His 
cattle  and  his  goats  were  in  hundreds,  and  his 
asses  were  many;  also,  his  Wives  were  three  and 
each  Wife  had  been  fruitful  to  him  and  his  House 
was  large.  And  Sopanto  dwelt  as  Head  of  the 
village  Moata,  which  was  not  far  from  Nilisetsi. 

Hangi  also,  the  father  of  Mamalubi,  was  a  man 

of  standing  and  Head  of  the  village  Botsabi, 

which  had  Koloani  for  Chief.     But  he  was  of 

great  meanness  and  a  miser.     And  Hangi  had 

57 


58  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

looked  with  envy  upon  the  riches  of  Sopanto; 

upon  his  cattle  and  upon  his  goats. 

Now  it  had  so  been  that  when  Sopanto  had 
looked  upon  the  young  girl,  Mamalubi,  and  seen 
that  she  would  grow  fair  and  desirable,  and  knew 
the  family  of  Hangi  that  it  was  of  high  stand- 
ing, he  spoke  to  Hangi  and  said,  "  Come,  let  us 
speak  of  thy  daughter,  the  young  child  Mama- 
lubi." 

"  He  weeps  with  one  eye." 

And  the  heart  of  Hangi  was  glad  at  this  say- 
ing, yet  made  he  pretence  and  said,  "  The  child 
is  very  young  and  it  is  too  soon  to  speak  of 
her." 

But  Sopanto  said,  "  Nay ;  to-day  is  with  us 
already,  but  the  wise  man  considers  his  House, 
what  it  shall  be.  Thou  knowest,  Hangi,  that  my 
wives  are  three;  now  Mamafi,  daughter  of  Su- 
vaan,  the  Swazi,  will  come  to  me  in  the  third 
summer,  and  for  thy  daughter,  Mamalubi,  she 
will  complete  my  House  when  she  is  of  a  right 
age." 

And  Hangi  said,  "  I  will  speak  to  the  child's 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  59 

mother,  and  when  thou  comest  again  we  will 
talk  of  this  thing." 

So  Hangi  spoke  to  Mamaoala,  the  mother  of 
Mamalubi,  and  Mamaoala  thought  also,  The  thing 
is  good  for  my  child,  for  Sopanto  is  rich ;  surely 
my  child  will  live  happily  at  the  House  of  So- 
panto. 

And  when  Hangi  and  Mamaoala  had  consid- 
ered the  thing  they  said  that  that  which  Sopanto 
should  bring  to  them  because  of  their  daughter 
should  be  fifty  head  of  cattle;  of  young  cows  and 
of  oxen  each  a  number. 

And  Mamaoala  said,  "  Six  summers  must  pass 
before  my  child  shall  go  to  Sopanto  for  a  wife." 

Now  when  Sopanto  came  again  to  the  village, 
Botsabi,  he  spoke  to  Hangi  and  said,  "  Thou  hast 
surely  spoken  to  the  mother  of  the  child,  Mama- 
lubi, and  know  her  mind  on  this  matter.  Is  it 
good  towards  me  ?  " 

And  Hangi  said,  "The  mother  of  the  child 
is  not  disposed  against  thee ;  but  the  child  is  dear 
in  her  sight  and  it  is  the  mother's  word  that  for 
six  summers  the  child  is  to  remain  with  her  in 
her  house." 


60  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

And  Sopanto  said,  "  I  am  content  that  it  shall 
be  so."  Then  he  asked,  "  And  what  is  that  which 
thou  askest  from  me  because  of  thy  daughter?  " 

And  when  Hangi  had  told  him  he  should  bring 
fifty  head  of  cattle,  of  young  cows  so  many,  and 
of  oxen  so  many,  Sopanto  was  surprised,  for  this 
was  a  great  payment  and  more  than  usual. 

But  Sopanto  was  a  proud  man  and  would  not 
bargain  closely  on  a  matter  which  concerned  the 
honour  of  his  House.  When  he  had  stood  silent 
for  a  while  he  said,  "  It  is  good,  Hangi,  my  friend ! 
Now  let  us  come  to  the  people  of  thy  House  that 
this  matter  be  openly  spoken  between  us." 

When  Hangi  had  brought  those  of  his  people 
together  who  had  interest  in  this  thing,  and  the 
word  had  been  spoken  before  them,  and  that 
which  Sopanto  should  bring  had  been  declared, 
Sopanto  rose  and  said,  "  The  bond  is  made,  Hangi, 
between  thee  and  me;  and  my  people  and  thy 
people  shall  know  of  our  word.  And  now  I  thank 
thee  for  thy  fair  dealing  in  the  matter,  for  that 
which  I  must  bring  is  surely  a  small  thing  to  ask 
for  such  a  maiden.  And,  Hangi,  I  will  add  to 
it;  to-morrow  will  I  send  thee  the  best  young 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  61 

bull  of  my  herd,  and  to  Mamaoala  a  young  cow, 
and  the  heifer  calf  of  the  cow  is  for  Mamalubi, 
to  be  a  token  between  us. 

Then  Sopanto  made  his  greetings  and  went 
out ;  and  those  who  had  met  together  were  aston- 
ished and  looked  at  each  other,  for  this  manner 
of  dealing  was  new  to  them  and  they  felt  small 
in  their  own  sight. 

And  Sopanto  did  as  he  had  said. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

"THE  FIG-TREE  DOES  NOT  CALL  THE  BIRDS" 
Now  the  Summers  had  come  and  the  Winters 
had  gone  and  the  maiden,  Mamalubi,  had  grown 
very  beautiful,  so  that  the  heart  of  Sopanto  was 
glad.  And  when  Hangi  had  visited  him  and  seen 
certain  of  his  cows  and  admired  them,  he  had 
sent  them  straightway  to  Hangi  as  part  of  that 
which  he  should  bring. 

And  Mamalubi,  the  maiden,  grew  in  wisdom 
also  but  considered  nought  of  this  matter,  for  it 
was  usual;  and  her  Heart  said  not  Yea,  neither 
said  it  Nay,  for  her  heart  spoke  not  in  any  way. 


CHAPTER  XV 

"NO  NEED  TO  TEACH  A  MONKEY  HOW  TO 
CLIMB  " 

Now  the  sixth  summer  was  approaching  and  at 
the  gathering-in  of  the  corn,  as  was  usual,  there 
had  been  much  beer  made  and  there  was  feast- 
ing amongst  the  people. 

And  it  happened  on  a  day,  towards  the  setting 
of  the  sun,  that  Mamalubi  was  returning  from 
the  lands  with  her  serute — which  is  a  basket  made 
of  grass — upon  her  head.  The  maiden  was  good 
to  look  upon.  Tall  had  she  grown,  and  strength 
and  gracefulness  were  in  her  movement.  Open 
was  her  face,  and  clear  and  bright  as  a  morn- 
ing in  spring;  and  her  eyes  looked  out  straight 
and  unafraid. 

Her  young  breasts  were  a  delight  to  the  eyes  of 
a  man.  As  twin  flowers  were  they ;  and  the  shade 
of  the  nipples  was  for  kissing. 

A  string  of  white  beads  was  round  her  neck, 


64  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

and  two  light  bangles  upon  her  left  wrist;  and 
nought  else  wore  she  from  the  middle  upwards, 
for  the  day  was  warm. 

And  from  her  hips  behind  hung  the  wilopi, 
the  dressed  skin  cut  to  three  corners,  and  the 
low  corner  reached  to  her  calves.  In  front  she 
wore  the  puriri — which  is  beaten  bark  made 
thickly  into  string,  and  when  it  is  tied  over  the 
hips  falls  down  upon  the  thighs  to  the  span  of  a 
hand.  And  so  was  the  maiden  attired  as  was 
usual  in  that  part. 

Now,  while  yet  a  long  way  from  the  village, 
Mamalubi  was  stopped  by  two  men,  and  when 
the  maiden  saw  that  the  men  had  been  drinking 
beer  and  were  drunk  she  would  have  moved  on, 
but  the  men  stood  before  her. 

When  Mamalubi  saw  that  the  men  would  not 
let  her  go  she  looked  about  and  saw  one  coming 
on  the  road,  behind  the  men,  close  by.  And  when 
one  of  those  who  hindered  her  placed  his  hand 
upon  her  shoulder  and  would  have  touched  her 
breasts  she  cried  out  and  sprang  to  one  side 
but  the  other  of  the  men  grasped  her  arm,  and 
Mamalubi  cried  out  again. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  65 

"  There  is  blood  in  the  dregs." 

And  in  a  moment  he  who  had  been  coming 
on  the  road  was  amongst  them  and,  striking  out 
with  his  sticks,  felled  the  two  men  to  the  ground. 

Now  they  who  lay  upon  the  ground  were  men 
of  Moali,  the  chief  village,  who  had  visited 
Botsabi  to  drink  beer;  and  when  they  looked  up 
at  him  who  had  struck  them  they  saw  that  it  was 
Jamba,  son  of  Bama,  who  was  of  much  higher 
rank  than  they;  and  they  were  afraid.  And  when 
Jamba  would  have  struck  them  again,  he  knew 
them  and  he  was  angry;  but  the  men  held  up 
their  hands  and  begged  for  mercy,  so  that  the 
young  man  held  his  hand  and  ordered  the  men 
to  return  to  their  kraal. 

Now  Jamba,  though  scarce  yet  a  man  in  years, 
was  of  good  stature  and  strongly  built.  Swift 
in  the  race,  and  trained  to  arms  from  his  boy- 
hood, there  was  no  young  man  in  that  part  who 
could  stand  against  him.  But  he  was  gentle  and 
of  a  quiet  manner. 

The  elder  men  of  those  villages  gave  him  often 
for  name,  Bambala,  for  just  so,  they  said,  had 


66  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

his  father,  the  Warrior,  been  in  his  youth.  And 
the  heart  of  the  young  man  was  proud  at  this 
saying,  for  the  fame  of  Bama  was  great  in  the 
land. 

Now  Jamba,  on  this  day,  had  visited  the  vil- 
lage Botsabi,  and  was  returning  to  his  house  at 
Moali;  for  there  was  no  great  distance  between 
the  villages.  And  the  young  man  had  a  light 
blanket  with  him,  but  because  the  day  was  warm 
he  had  tied  it  loosely  with  a  thong  and  hung  it 
over  his  back.  And  Jamba  had  a  bangle  upon 
his  right  wrist;  and  he  wore  the  munapi — 
which  is  a  simple  piece  of  skin  tied  over  the  hips 
and  between  the  legs.  And  he  carried  two  long 
fighting  sticks  in  his  hand,  but  nothing  else  wore 
he  from  his  head  to  his  feet.  And  the  figure 
of  the  young  man  was  pleasing  to  the  eye. 

And  now,  as  he  stood  above  the  two  men  of 
a  coarser  kind,  the  grasp  upon  his  sticks  caused 
the  strength  of  his  arm  and  of  his  chest  to  show 
forth;  and  his  eyes  threw  fire  with  his  anger. 

Now  while  Mamalubi  looked  upon  the  young 
man  as  he  dealt  with  the  two  who  had  hindered 
her,  she  knew  of  a  stirring  at  her  heart  which 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  67 

was  strange,  and  she  knew  not  at  first  what  it 
might  mean.  But  it  was  as  of  a  drawing  towards 
the  young  man. 

And  when  Jamba,  having  seen  the  men  rise 
and  go  on  their  way,  turned  to  the  maiden  and 
looked  into  her  eyes,  they  both  stood  astonished 
and  could  not  say  a  word.  Then,  as  they  stood 
thus  looking,  the  lips  of  the  maiden  opened  and 
gladness  shone  out  from  her  face.  And  the  heart 
of  the  young  man  throbbed  violently ;  and,  at  that 
shining  Love-beauty  on  the  face  of  the  maiden, 
his  arms  opened,  and,  all  unable  to  hold  away, 
the  maiden  was  drawn  in  to  his  breast  and  their 
hearts  struck  together. 

The  two  men  moved  quickly  on  their  way  and 
looked  not  back.  The  basket  lay  upon  the  ground, 
and  the  sticks,  but  the  young  man,  Jamba,  and 
the  maiden,  Mamalubi,  knew  nought  of  anything 
and  could  neither  see  nor  think  for  the  throbbing 
together  of  their  hearts  which  met  and  clove  and 
grew  together  as  they  stood.  And  the  face  of 
the  maiden  was  pressed  against  the  young  man's 
shoulder. 

And  now,  in  a  little  while,  the  breast  of  the 


68  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

maiden  rose  with  a  deep  breath,  and  at  this  the 
Young  Man  looked  upon  her.  And,  gradually 
they  drew  apart,  but  by  the  sweet  pain  and  rend- 
ing of  it  they  knew  that  their  hearts  were  not 
as  they  had  been,  but  that  each  had  taken  the 
heart  of  the  other. 

And  now  the  maiden  sank  upon  the  ground 
where  she  was;  nor  had  she  again  looked  upon 
the  face  of  the  Young  Man.  And  the  thing  was 
utterly  strange  to  them  both,  and  they  were  yet 
bewildered. 

And  the  maiden  crouched  upon  the  ground,  and 
Jamba,  also,  moved  a  few  paces  off  and  sank 
upon  the  ground ;  and  so  for  a  while  they  lay. 

And  the  sun  had  set. 

And  now  Jamba  arose  and  went  and  lay  down 
before  the  maiden,  and  put  out  his  hand  and 
touched  her  on  her  arm;  and  Mamalubi  shivered 
and  knew  not  what  to  do  for  that  touch ;  and  then 
Jamba  spoke : 

"  Mamalubi." 

For  they  had  known  each  other,  who  they  were, 
and  had  often  met  in  passing  but  they  had  never 
spoken  together. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  69 

And  the  maiden  could  not  speak,  and  Jamba 
said,  "  Blood  of  my  Heart !  come.  The  sun  has 
set." 

Then  the  maiden  arose,  yet  all  dazed,  and  took 
her  basket,  and  Jamba  gathered  up  his  sticks  and 
they  walked  slowly  side  by  side  towards  the  vil- 
lage; and  they  spoke  not  yet  to  each  other  be- 
cause of  the  beating  of  their  hearts. 

But  when  they  were  come  to  the  thorn  bushes, 
which  were  close  to  the  stream  which  ran  by  the 
village,  they  paused.  And  Jamba  looked  at  the 
Maiden,  and  he  said  again,  softly,  "  Mamalubi !  " 

And  now,  at  last,  the  maiden  turned  and  looked 
at  the  Young  Man,  and  they  were  very  close  to 
each  other  and  each  saw  nothing  but  the  eyes  of 
the  other,  and  they  looked  deeply  and  lost  them- 
selves, for  the  depths  were  beyond  all  reaching. 
And  while  yet  they  looked,  their  lips  met  and  they 
knew  not  how;  nor  how  they  parted,  nor  any 
other  thing  until  the  next  day. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

"THE  DRIFT  IS  NEVER  GOOD  ON  ALL  SIDES" 
Now  when  again,  the  next  day,  Jamba,  the  son 
of  the  Warrior,  had  met  the  maiden,  Mamalubi, 
and  afterwards  many  times,  they  knew  that  they 
could  not  live  away  from  each  other  for  that  their 
hearts  had  mingled  and  were  one. 

So  Mamalubi  told  this  thing  to  her  mother, 
Mamaoala,  and  when  she  had  told  her  all  they 
wept  together,  for  they  knew  that  Hangi  would 
be  of  bitter  heart  and  very  angry  at  this  hearing. 
But  Mamalubi  spoke  to  her  mother  and  said, 
"  Speak  now  to  my  father,  and  tell  him  this  thing, 
for  it  must  not  be  hidden." 

And  when  Hangi  had  heard  that  his  daughter, 
Mamalubi,  loved  the  young  man,  Jamba,  and  that 
her  face  was  against  Sopanto,  to  be  his  wife,  he 
was  exceeding  wroth.  And  Hangi  swore  an  oath 
by  his  fathers  that  Mamalubi  should  go  to  So- 
panto to  wife  as  he  had  said. 

And  so  there  was  vexation  and  bitterness  in  the 
House  of  Hangi. 

70 


CHAPTER  XVII 

"WHO  FOLLOWS  A  WOMAN  FALLS  DOWN  A 

KRANZ  " 

WITH  the  young  man,  Jamba,  also,  the  custom 
of  that  country  had  not  been  changed,  and  while 
he  was  yet  a  boy  his  father,  Bama,  had  spoken 
with  one,  Mafefu,  a  man  of  high  standing,  whose 
kraal  was  at  a  distance,  and  they  had  agreed  that 
their  Houses  should  be  joined,  and  that  Tinang, 
the  daughter  of  Mafefu,  should,  at  a  right  time, 
come  to  Jamba  for  a  wife.  And  when  Thoromati, 
the  mother  of  Jamba,  and  Mapejan,  the  mother 
of  Tinang,  had  also  spoken  in  this  thing,  it  was 
said  that  that  which  should  be  brought  to  the 
House  of  Mafefu  because  of  his  daughter  should 
be  twenty-five  head  of  cattle,  of  young  cows  so 
many,  and  of  oxen  so  many,  and  ten  ewe  goats 
of  the  first  year. 

Now  Tinang,  the  daughter  of  Mafefu,  grew  up, 
and  because  of  her  father's  estate  she  was  very 
proud.    She  was  pleasing  to  the  eye  but  the  heart 
71 


72  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

of  the  girl  was  vain.  And  Jamba  visited  her  and 
saw  that  she  was  comely.  And  the  maiden 
Tinang,  also  considered  Jamba,  that  he  was  strong 
and  pleasant  to  look  upon,  and  they  spoke  to- 
gether and  were  as  young  people  are. 

Only  in  this  matter  the  heart  of  the  maiden 
was  not  pleased  that  that  which  was  to  come 
to  her  father's  House  because  of  her  was  not 
a  greater  value.  And  the  maiden  said  why  was 
it  not  forty  head  of  cattle,  and  that  she  was 
slighted  and  counted  of  little  worth.  But  it  was 
not  so,  for  the  number  was  as  was  usual  in  those 
parts.  But  the  maiden  was  vain  and  thought  if 
the  value  had  been  greater  she  would  have  counted 
higher  in  rank  in  her  husband's  house.  And  so  it 
was  at  that  time  with  Jamba  and  the  maiden 
Tinang. 

Now  when,  later,  Jamba  spoke  to  his  father, 
Bama,  and  said,  "  I  love  the  maiden,  Mamalubii 
daughter  of  Hangi  and  we  have  sworn  to  each 
other,"  Bama  asked.  "  But  what  of  Tinang,  of 
the  House  of  Mafefu,  to  whom  thou  art  be- 
trothed?" 

And  Jamba  said,  "  I  know  not,  my  father ;  per- 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  73 

chance  when  Tinang  hears  that  my  heart  is  to  the 
daughter  of  Hangi  she  will  turn  her  face  against 
me." 

.But  Bama  the  Warrior  said,  "  I  know  not  the 
mind  of  the  maiden,  but  of  Mafefu,  her  father, 
am  I  sure  that  he  will  not  have  change  in  this 
thing;  for  the  girl  may  continue  in  his  house  to 
be  a  trouble  to  him." 

And  it  was  as  Bama  had  said.  Mafefu  was 
wroth  when  he  had  been  told,  for  it  seemed  to 
him  that  now  he  might  not  find  one  of  a  good 
House  to  take  his  daughter  for  a  wife,  and,  also, 
that  Tinang  was  now  grown  up  and  might  bring 
trouble  upon  his  House.  And  Mafefu  said,  "  I 
will  hold  Bama  to  his  word." 

Tinang,  also,  was  very  angry,  but  her  heart 
now  leant  towards  Jamba,  and  the  maiden  said, 
"  I  must  be  first  in  the  house  of  Jamba,  and  if 
he  take  Mamalubi  to  wife  also,  she  must  wait 
upon  me." 

So  there  was  vexation  also  between  the  House 
of  Bama  the  Warrior  and  the  House  of  Mafefu. 

But  Bama  had  not  anger  against  his  son,  Jamba, 
for  he  knew  that  the  young  man  was  honourable. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

"THE  LITTLE  FOUNTAIN  AHEAD  MAKES  ONE 
VERY  THIRSTY" 

WITH  Sopanto,  also,  of  the  village  Moali,  when 
he  came  to  hear  of  this  thing  it  was  as  a  thorn 
in  his  flesh. 

But  Sopanto  was  a  man  of  much  wisdom  and 
calmness  and  he  considered  the  matter  with  him- 
self. He  spoke  not  hastily,  neither  made  he  any 
quick  movement. 

But  Sopanto  knew  not  that  because  of  his  heart 
his  eyes  would  deceive  him;  for  he  had  come  to 
think  much  of  the  maiden  Mamalubi,  of  her  beauty 
and  of  her  manner. 

And  Sopanto  spoke  with  himself  and  said, 
"  The  maiden  has  shown  a  pleasant  face  towards 
me  and  her  heart  is  not  against  me ;  and  there  is 
whatever  she  can  desire  in  my  house.  Whereas 
with  the  young  man,  Jamba,  he  is  of  good  fam- 
ily, but  Bama  is  not  wealthy  and  his  sons  are 
74 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  75 

many  to  provide  for,  and  there  are  no  daughters 
in  his  House  to  enrich  him. 

"  The  face  of  Hangi,  also,  is  towards  me  and 
against  Jamba,  for  he  knows  the  young  man 
could  not  bring  that  which  he  asks  because  of 
his  daughter. 

"  Now,  the  maiden  says  she  will  not  come  to 
me  because  of  her  love  for  Jamba,  but  Mama- 
lubi  is  young  and,  surely,  this  is  but  a  maiden's 
first  fancy.  The  young  man  is  comely  and  of 
good  promise,  but  there  will  be  much  reaping  of 
corn  before  he  can  build  a  House  according  to 
his  rank;  and  the  maiden  is  already  of  a  right 
age. 

"Water  is  never  tired  of  flowing." 

"  Nay !  Mamalubi  has  spoken  well  with  me, 
and  I  am  yet  of  full  vigour  and  not  ill  to  look 
upon;  and  for  the  pleasant  ways  of  her  life  in 
my  house  the  maiden  will  be  glad  and  love  me, 
and  this  other  thing  will  quickly  pass  from  her 
mind.  Surely  it  will  be  good  for  the  maiden, 
also,  that  I  hold  to  this  thing." 

And  Sopanto  spoke  all  this  over  again  and 


76  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

many  other  like  things,  and  his  wisdom  was  ut- 
terly foolish  because  he  knew  not  the  heart  of 
a  maiden  to  read  it  in  any  way. 

And  so  it  was  with  all  these  families;  there 
was  confusion  and  much  talking  amongst  them. 
Only  with  Jamba,  the  son  of  Bama,  and  Mama- 
lubi,  the  maiden,  was  there  peace  because  of  the 
love  in  their  hearts  and  that  they  would  not  con- 
sider any  other  thing. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

"THE  CHILDREN  OF  ONE  MOTHER  SHARE  THE 
HEAD  OF  A  LOCUST  BETWEEN  THEM" 

Now  when  Jamba  saw  the  Chief  cast  himself 
down  upon  the  mat  in  the  hut  of  Chuaani,  the 
Hairy  One,  because  of  his  great  weariness,  and 
knew  that  he  would  sleep,  he  stepped  quickly  for- 
ward and  the  Chief  saw  him;  and  Koloani  said, 
"  What  is  it  with  thee,  Jamba,  my  son  ?  Surely 
thou  art  tired  also  and  wilt  sleep." 

And  Jamba  said,  "  My  Lord !  My  heart  yearns 
towards  the  maiden  Mamalubi,  of  the  House  of 
Hangi  of  Botsabi,  and  the  maiden  will  be  troubled 
because  of  me  and  will  fear  that  it  is  with  me 
even  as  with  my  father's  house. 

"  Let  me  go  now,  Father  of  Ours,  that  I  may 
see  the  maiden,  and  I  will  return  again  quickly." 

And  Koloani,  the  Chief  said,  "  Jamba,  thou  art 

now  my  son,  for  Bama,  the  Great  One,  has  gone, 

and  my  children  have  been  taken  from  me.    Look 

towards  me  now  in  all  things,  and  if  thy  heart 

77 


78  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

is  towards  this  maiden  of  the  House  of  Hangi 
I  will  deal  in  the  matter  as  though  thou  wert  of 
my  House.  And  when  these  Clouds  have  passed 
there  shall  be  feasting  because  of  thee  and  thy 
maiden. 

"  Do  now  as  thou  wilt,  but  be  Watchful  and 
take  heed  as  thou  goest,  for  an  enemy  is  in  the 
land." 

Then  Jamba  gave  thanks  to  the  Chief  and  said, 
"  Farewell,  My  Father !  To-morrow  I  will  come 
again." 

Then  Jamba  took  his  spears  and  his  war  club, 
and  he  took  his  blanket  also,  and  set  forth.  And 
he  ran  and  travelled  quickly,  but  the  night  was 
still  young,  and  when  he  had  come  to  the  corn- 
land  which  belonged  to  the  village  Botsabi  he 
chose  him  a  place  in  the  lands  and  spread  his 
blanket  and  laid  down  to  sleep — for  the  corn  had 
been  cut  from  the  stalks  and  no  one  would  come 
there.  And  the  young  man  laid  his  spears  on 
one  side  close  to  his  hand,  and  his  club  was  fas- 
tened by  a  thong  to  his  wrist. 

And  Jamba  had  much  in  his  mind,  but  for 
three  days  he  had  taken  little  rest  and  now  his 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  79 

eyes  were  heavy  so  that  he  slept  quickly.  But 
the  young  man  had  lain  him  down  on  his  blanket 
and  had  not  drawn  it  over  him  so  that  with  the 
cool  breeze  which  came  with  the  Dawn  he  stirred 
in  his  sleep,  then  opened  his  eyes.  And  in  a 
moment  the  son  of  the  Warrior  was  awake  again. 

Now  Jamba  rose  warily  and  looked  around  him, 
and  when  he  saw  that  all  was  still  he  took  up  his 
blanket  and  moved  quickly  forward  until  he  came 
to  the  thorn  bushes  which  were  close  to  the  stream 
which  ran  by  the  village  Botsabi.  And  here  Jam- 
ba waited,  for  he  knew  that  soon  the  women  and 
girls  of  the  village  would  come  to  the  stream  with 
their  pots  for  water. 

Now  Jamba  knew  some  of  the  girls  who  were 
Friends  of  Mamalubi  and,  he  thought,  "  I  will 
find  one  to  take  word  to  my  love."  But  he 
thought  it  not  well  to  show  himself,  for  the  face 
of  Hangi  was  against  him  and  he  knew  that 
Hangi  was  a  mean  man. 

And  now,  even  before  the  Sun  had  risen,  began 
the  women  of  the  kraal  and  the  girls  to  come 
for  water.  They  came  by  the  footpaths  down  to 
the  stream  and  walked  always  one  behind  the 


80  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

other  with  their  clay  pots  or  bowls  upon  their 
heads. 

The  women  wore  the  Wilopi,  the  hide  cut  to 
three  corners,  behind;  and  before,  from  the  hips 
downwards,  they  wore  the  Tipito — which  is  the 
full  skin  of  a  goat,  dressed.  And  many  had  great 
weight  of  bangles  upon  their  wrists  and  their 
ankles,  and  some  wore  circlets  as  thick  as  a  man's 
thumb,  round  their  necks,  made  with  beads. 
Others  had  narrow  copper  bands  on  their  arms 
above  the  elbow,  and  thick,  heavy  rings  around 
the  neck. 

And  when  they  came  to  the  stream  some  went 
up  the  stream  and  some  went  down;  and  they 
leant  over  and  took  water  in  their  pots  and  then 
they  took  sand  in  their  hands  and  scraped  it 
against  the  inside  of  the  pots  to  clean  them ;  then, 
when  they  had  washed  the  outside  of  the  pots 
also  that  they  should  be  pleasing  to  the  eye, 
they  went  to  holes  which  had  been  dug  out  in 
the  sand,  away  from  the  place  of  washing,  and 
with  their  calabash  ladles  they  scooped  the  water 
which  filtered  into  the  holes  and  which  was  cold 
and  clean. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  81 

The  young  girls  sang  and  the  women  talked, 
and  there  was  much  noise. 

When  the  pots  were  filled  they  took  them  on 
their  heads  and  sometimes,  when  the  bowls  were 
large  and  very  heavy,  two  would  raise  a  bowl 
together  and  one  would  bend  under  and  take  the 
bowl  upon  her  head,  and  then  she  with  the  pot 
on  her  head  would  bend  down  and  place  her 
hands  under  the  other  pot  on  the  ground  and 
so  this  would  be  raised  also  to  the  head  of  the 
other  girl.  And  when  they  were  ready  they  re- 
turned to  their  huts  again,  one  behind  the  other. 


CHAPTER  XX 

"THE  POINT  OF  THE  NEEDLE  MUST  PASS 
FIRST" 

Now  Jamba  watched  the  path  which  led  from 
the  sabolo  of  Hangi  and  presently  his  face  smiled 
and  his  heart  leaped,  for  he  saw  the  maiden, 
Mamalubi,  coming  along  the  path,  and  her  bowl 
was  on  her  head. 

But  Jamba  saw  that  the  step  of  the  maiden 
was  heavy  and  that  a  sadness  was  upon  her ;  and 
the  young  man  put  force  upon  himself  that  he 
sprang  not  forward  to  meet  her. 

When  Mamalubi  came  to  the  stream  she  went 
not  with  the  others  at  once  to  wash  her  bowl 
but  sat  down  a  little  way  off.  And  the  heart  of 
Jamba  strove  within  him  as  he  looked  upon  the 
maiden,  for  he  saw  that  there  was  darkness  upon 
her  spirit. 

And  now  when  the  others  who  had  come  down 
with  her  had  drawn  their  water  they  spoke  to 
her  kindly,  and  one  would  have  taken  her  bowl 
82 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  83 

to  wash  it;  but  she  would  not,  and  spoke  and 
asked  them  to  leave  her  awhile  and  she  would 
come  after.  Then  Mamalubi  took  her  pot  and 
went  to  the  stream  and  the  others  went  up. 

And  Jamba  had  made  no  sign  because  he  saw 
that  Mamalubi  would  not  go  up  with  the  others. 

Now  when  the  maiden  came  to  the  stream  the 
bowl  dropped  from  her  hand  into  the  water,  and 
even  as  Jamba  called  her  name  she  had  cast  her- 
self down  upon  the  sand.  And  Jamba  called 
again,  "  Mamalubi,"  not  loudly,  but  so  that  she 
should  hear.  And  at  that  word  the  maiden  sprang 
to  her  knees  and  clasped  her  hands  tightly  to  her 
heart ;  and  when  she  saw  Jamba  standing  by  the 
bushes  she  was  overcome  with  joy  and  could  not 
move. 

Then  the  arms  of  the  young  man  went  out 
and  he  would  have  gone  forward,  but  the  maiden 
called  softly  and  said,  "  Stay  where  thou  art,  my 
Love!  I  am  coming."  And  she  took  her  bowl 
quickly  from  the  stream  and  looked  around  and, 
seeing  nobody,  she  sprang  across  the  stream  and 
up  the  bank  and  in  a  moment  was  clasped  to  the 
young  man's  breast. 


84  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

Now,  as  though  in  great  fear,  Mamalubi  drew 
the  young  man  deeper  into  the  bushes,  and  not 
until  they  had  come  to  a  place  where  none  other 
would  come  by  chance  did  the  maiden  pause. 

Then  Mamalubi  said,  "  O  my  Life !  Why  hast 
thou  come  to  this  place?  The  strength  of  my 
heart  has  brought  thee  to  this  peril."  And  the 
maiden  struck  herself  upon  the  breast  with  her 
hand. 

And  Jamba  said,  "Cruel  One!  It  was,  then, 
my  own  heart  which  called;  and  how  could  I 
stay  away?"  And  at  this  word  the  face  of 
Mamalubi  shone  with  a  great  love ;  and  they  drew 
very  near  to  each  other,  and  Mamalubi  said,  "  My 
Lord ! "  and  this  was  the  first  time  the  maiden 
had  so  called  the  young  man,  and  it  was  as  a 
new  troth  between  them. 

Then  Jamba  sat  down  upon  the  grass  and 
Mamalubi  knelt  by  him,  and  took  his  head  and 
pressed  it  against  her  bosom  that  he  might  hear 
the  beating  of  her  heart. 

Then  Mamalubi  spoke  again  and  said,  "  My 
Love !  Hear  my  word.  The  danger  here  is 
great !  Yesterday  morning  came  one  from  Moali 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  85 

crying  out  that  Koloani,  the  Chief,  had  been 
slain  in  the  night  with  all  his  House ;  and  Mono- 
kang  with  all  his  House;  and  Bama  the  Warrior 
with  all  his  House.  O  my  Love!  My  Love! 
I  heard  no  more,  but  ran  to  my  mother's  hut 
and  fell  before  the  door,  and  I  was  brought 
in;  and  afterwards  my  mother  called  the  messen- 
ger and  asked  him  concerning  thee  and  he  said — 
and  my  heart  blessed  him — that  thy  father,  the 
Great  One,  and  thy  brothers  had  been  slain 
in  their  places  but  that  nought  was  known 
concerning  thee.  Then  I  knew  that  thou  wast 
alive. 

"  And  later  came  one  again  saying  the  Chief 
was  not  slain,  but  that  he  had  seen  him  and 
brought  word  from  him ;  and  when  he  had  spoken 
in  the  Council  I  entreated  my  Mother,  and  she 
brought  beer  and  called  the  man  to  drink  because 
he  had  run  in  the  way. 

"And  when  I  came  from  the  house  and  he 
saw  me  his  eyes  smiled  and  he  spoke  quickly  and 
said,  '  Thy  lover  lives  and  is  with  the  Chief,'  and, 
O  my  Heart!  remember  that  man  to  be  good  to 
him,  for  he  brought  great  gladness  to  me.  He 


86  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

is  Ratupi,  of  the  House  of  Laku,  and  I  have 
already  been  of  service  to  him,  for  while  he  was 
yet  before  my  mother's  house  came  five  men  from 
Moali.  And  three  of  them  were  men  of  Koloani 
and  two  were  men  of  Kundu.  They  brought 
word  from  the  Chief  Kundu  to  Hangi,  my  father. 
And  when  my  father  had  heard  the  message  he 
came  with  Puluputi,  my  uncle,  and  they  entered 
into  the  house." 

"  When  the  bush  is  alight  the  pigeon  leaves  the 
grass." 

"  Now  I  was  at  the  back  of  the  house  close 
to  the  wall  and  I  heard  them  speaking  together. 
And  their  speech  was  towards  Kundu  and  against 
the  Chief  Koloani.  And  at  that  I  listened  closely, 
and  presently  Hangi,  my  father,  said,  '  The  words 
of  Kundu  are  good  and  we  must  make  haste  to 
welcome  him.  Koloani  has  fled,  and  he  is  as  a 
lion  whose  great  teeth  have  been  drawn,  for  Moali 
with  all  its  spears  has  gone  over  to  Kundu.  Re- 
turn thou,  therefore,  Puluputi,  with  the  men  of 
Kundu  and  give  our  greeting  to  the  Great  Chief. 
And  tell  him,  also,  the  word  which  we  have  heard 
from  Koloani  and  that  he  is  with  his  uncle  Chu- 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  87 

aani,  the  Hairy  One,  and  so  we  shall  win  favour 
with  Kundu. 

"  At  these  words  I  came  again  quickly  to  the 
young  man,  Ratupi,  and  I  told  him  that  my  father 
was  now  against  the  Chief  Koloani  and  was  send- 
ing to  welcome  Kundu.  And,  when  he  had  heard, 
Ratupi  rose  at  once  and  took  his  spears  and  his 
blanket  and  I  led  him  out  from  the  village  by  a 
back  way  and  he  went  into  the  hills." 

"  You  have  held  a  buffalo  by  the  horn  for  me." 

"  And  when  my  father  came  afterwards  and 
made  search  for  the  young  man,  and  could  not 
find  him  he  was  angry. 

"  And  Hangi,  my  father,  took  five  head  of 
oxen  from  the  kraal  and  sent  these  with  Puluputi 
to  be  an  offering  to  Kundu  and  as  meat  for  his 
warriors." 

And  now  Mamalubi  said,  "  Thou  seest,  Crown 
of  my  Head!  that  an  Evil  Spirit  is  upon  this 
place,  and  if  thou  art  discovered  my  father  would 
never  let  thee  go.  Mine  eyes  have  seen  thee, 
my  Love,  my  Chief !  fear  not  now  for  me. 

"  This  morning  was  I  of  broken  spirit,  and 


88  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

the  world  was  grey,  for  my  father  had  taunted 
me  and  said,  *  Jamba,  thy  lover,  shalt  thou  never 
see  more,  and  Sopanto  shall  come  quickly  to  claim 
thee.'  But  his  words  were  false,  for  I  have  seen 
thee,  O  Heart  of  my  Heart!  and  the  Good  Spirits 
watch  over  us." 

Then  Jamba  drew  his  maiden  strongly  towards 
him  and  spoke  lovingly  to  her  and  said,  "  Sweet 
and  tender  art  thou.  Delight  of  my  Eyes !  and 
thy  voice  is  as  the  gentle  breeze  upon  the  corn, 
yet  art  thou  brave  as  a  warrior.  Open  is  thy 
face  and  true  thy  tongue,  yet  art  thou  very  wise." 
And  Jamba  caressed  her  and  kissed  her  eyes  and 
her  brow,  and  he  kissed  her  upon  the  mouth. 

Then  Mamalubi  drew  herself  away  and  stood 
up,  and  Jamba  stood  up  also,  and  Jamba  said, 
"  Now  will  I  return  to  Koloani,  our  good  Chief, 
who  is  now  my  father  and  who  also  looks  kindly 
upon  thee;  fear  not  again  for  me  for  thy  love 
gives  me  the  strength  of  ten.  Every  morn  at  sun- 
rise I  will  look  towards  Botsabi  and  call  thee; 
and  my  heart  within  thy  bosom  will  speak.  Now, 
Blood  of  my  Heart!  Farewell." 


CHAPTER  XXI 

"HE  WHO  IS  PIERCED  WITH  A  THORN  MUST 
LIMP  OFF  TO  HIM  WHO  HAS  A  KNIFE " 

WHEN  they  had  for  the  last  time  embraced,  Jam- 
ba took  his  way  through  the  bushes  to  the  corn- 
lands,  and  when  he  saw  that  there  were  no  men 
about  that  part  he  came  to  the  broad  footpath, 
and  springing  high  into  the  air  the  son  of  Bama 
shook  his  spears  and  grunted  deeply  in  his  chest, 
for  he  knew  that  there  was  man's  work  before 
him. 

Then  he  sprang  lightly  forward  on  his  toes 
and  ran.  And  soon  the  war  song  came  to  him, 
and  he  chanted  the  war  song  as  he  ran,  and  at 
every  ending  the  young  warrior  leaped  high  in 
the  air  and  shook  his  spears  and  lunged  forward 
and  sideways,  as  though  the  enemy  was  before 
him.  The  blood  ran  hot  in  the  young  man's  veins 
and  he  saw  only  red  before  him;  for  he  had  to 
avenge  his  father's  House. 

And  so  continued  Jamba,  the  son  of  the  War- 


90  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

rior,  and  travelled  quickly  and  stopped  not  from 
running  until  he  came  close  to  the  village  Tlapa- 
kun,  the  Place  of  Black  Rocks,  where  the  Chief 
was  with  Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One. 

Now  it  was  before  the  turn  of  the  day  when 
Jamba  came  again  to  the  village  of  Chuaani,  and 
there  were  some  outside  the  gates  who  told  him 
that  the  Hairy  One  was  in  the  Place  of  Council 
and  that  the  Old  Men  were  with  him;  for  that 
men  had  come  from  Moali,  from  the  Chief  Kun- 
du,  and  had  brought  word  to  Chuaani  from  that 
Chief.  But  the  Chief  Koloani  was  not  at  the 
council,  but  was  in  the  house  of  Chuaani.  So 
when  Jamba  came  into  the  village  he  went 
straightway  to  the  house  of  Chuaani  to  make 
known  his  presence  to  the  Chief. 

When  Jamba  came  to  the  sabolo  the  Chief 
was  in  the  courtyard  before  the  house;  and  Jam- 
ba struck  his  hands  together  and  said,  "  My  father, 
I  have  come  again." 

And  Koloani  turned  to  the  young  man  and 
smiled  when  he  saw  him.  And  the  Chief  said, 
"  Hast  thou  fared  well,  my  son  ?  Were  there 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  91 

not  thorns  in  the  path?  And  did  thy  maiden 
greet  thee  kindly?" 

And  Jamba  said,  "  There  were  none  to  hinder 
me  by  the  way,  O  Chief.  And  Mamalubi  had 
wept  for  me,  but  now  is  comforted.  Brave  and 
beautiful  is  she,  my  father." 

And  Koloani  said,  "  Thou  also  art  brave,  son 
of  Bama,  and  good  to  look  upon;  and  with 
Love  in  thy  house  Chiefs  will  envy  thee.  But 
thou  hast  more  to  say." 

And  Jamba  answered  sorrowfully,  "  I  will  tell 
it  quickly,  O  Chief!  for  it  is  ill  news.  Messen- 
gers from  the  enemy  have  been  to  Hangi,  Head 
of  Botsabi,  thy  village  and  he  has  sent  his 
brother  with  a  gift  to  Kundu.  Five  oxen  he 
gave,  and  offered  greeting  to  Kundu ;  and,  to  win 
favour  with  that  Fighter-in-the-Dark,  Hangi  has 
sent  word  that  thou,  O  Chief!  art  here  with 
Chuaani.  This  was  done  before  the  setting  of 
last  night's  moon." 

"  The  old  bowl  always  smells  of  the  milk." 

And  the  Chief  said,  "  Is  it  even  so?  Yet  Hangi 
was  ever  known  as  a  coward  and  of  mean  heart. 
There  are  men  of  Kundu  here  from  Moali  who 


92  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

came  in  last  night,  and  they  await  word  from 

Chuaani.    But  they  know  not  that  I  am  here." 

And  Koloani  said,  "  Go  rest  thee  now.  Thy 
word  from  Hangi  of  Botsabi  has  shown  me  the 
road,  and  it  is  a  long  one." 

They  sent  Koloani  to  call  the  Hairy  One,  and 
when  Chuaani  stood  before  him  the  Chief  said, 
"  Hear,  my  uncle !  Jamba,  Son  of  Bama,  has 
come  in  from  Botsabi  and  brings  the  greetings 
of  the  scorpion  from  that  village. 

"  Hangi,  eater-of-dirt,  has  scraped  his  belly  to 
our  enemy,  Kundu,  and  has  sent  word  to  him  that 
I  am  here  with  thee  at  Tlapakun.  This  word  had 
Kundu  with  the  moon  last  night ;  even  now  Boka- 
lobi,  his  general,  will  be  preparing  all  his  force 
to  come  against  me  quickly. 

"  We  will  not  fight,  my  uncle !  Neither  will 
I  see  thee  and  thy  village  destroyed  because  of 
me.  The  signs  are  against  me  at  this  time." 

And  Koloani,  the  Chief,  said,  "  Rememberest 
thou  the  word  of  Makalokolo,  the  Wizard,  which 
he  read  in  his  Letters,  '  The  roused  wolf  ranges 
far  alone '  ?  It  is  even  so.  We  cannot  stand 
against  him  at  this  time. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  93 

"  There  is  but  one  road  for  me.  I  will  take 
Jamba,  son  of  Bama,  and  a  few  of  those  who 
would  come  with  me,  and  go  to  those  White 
People  who  have  kept  the  land  in  peace  these 
many  seasons.  And  I  will  tell  all  this  evil  unto 
them. 

"  And  thou,  my  uncle,  speak  well  with  Kundu, 
that  he  trouble  thee  not  and  thy  village.  Send 
this  word  unto  all  the  people  privately;  to  the 
Head  Men  of  the  kraals.  Let  them  be  wise  in 
this  matter.  In  a  little  while  those  White  Men 
will  be  here,  with  their  horses  and  their  guns, 
and  these  troublers  will  be  swept  away." 

And  Koloani  said,  "  Speak  this,  my  word, 
quickly  with  thy  Old  Men,  and  then,  my  uncle, 
have  those  five  men  from  Moali  brought  to  the 
Place  of  Council;  and  send  me  word  for  I  will 
speak  with  Kundu  also."  And  Chuaani  went 
out. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

"STOLEN  HORNS  DO  NOT  STICK  ON  THE 
HEAD  " 

Now  when  Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One,  came  to  the 
Khothla  and  gave  the  word  of  the  Chief  to  the 
Old  Men  and  Councillors,  they  saw  wisdom  in 
that  which  Koloani  had  said. 

Then  Chuaani  sent  one  to  bring  the  men  who 
had  come  from  Moali,  from  the  Chief  Kundu. 
And  this  one  went  to  a  large  hut  which  stood 
apart  and  had  a  wall  built  round  it,  and  he  found 
the  five  men  in  the  yard  between  the  wall  and 
the  hut.  The  hut  was  well  made  and  comforta- 
ble, for  there  were  mats  and  skins  about  and 
stools  to  sit  upon,  and  water  was  there  in  pots, 
and  all  that  was  needful;  and  the  men  had  been 
kept  there  and  food  had  been  brought  to  them. 
But  the  men  might  not  move  about  the  village 
or  talk  with  the  people. 

Now  he  who  had  been  sent  spoke  to  the  five 
men  and  they  took  up  their  blankets  and  fol- 
04 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  95 

lowed  him.  And  when  they  were  come  to  the 
Khothla,  Chuaani  went  out  and  came  quickly  to 
the  Chief  and  told  him. 

Then  the  Chief  took  a  kaross  which  Chuaani, 
his  uncle,  had  given  him,  and  drew  it  under  his 
right  arm  and  fastened  it  over  his  left  shoulder. 
And  the  kaross  was  made  of  the  skin  of  a  large 
tiger,  and  ar-ound  the  tiger  skin  were  the  skins 
of  twelve  jackals.  The  kaross  was  very  beauti- 
ful, and  such  as  a  Chief  will  wear. 

And  Koloani  came  to  the  Place  of  Council  and 
Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One,  walked  behind  the  Chief. 

Now,  when  Koloani  entered  through  the  gate 
to  the  Place  of  Council,  all  those  who  were  there 
stood  up  and  struck  their  hands  together,  as  is 
their  way,  and  greeted  the  Chief  with  fine  words 
and  titles  also. 

But  the  men  who  had  come  from  the  Chief 
Kundu  were  sore  afraid;  two,  who  were  from 
the  village  Nilisetsi,  also  stood  up  and  struck  their 
hands  together,  and  said,  "  Chief !  Chief !  "  But 
three,  who  were  from  the  village  Moali,  threw 
themselves  upon  their  faces  to  the  ground  and 
looked  not  up  again,  for  they  had  thought  their 


96  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

Chief  was  dead,  and  now  Koloani  stood  before 
them.  And  they  were  utterly  ashamed  and  afraid 
for  their  lives. 

Now,  Koloani  entered  not  in  the  Place  of 
Council  to  sit  down,  as  is  the  way,  but  stood 
within  the  gate  only. 

And  Koloani  looked  round  first  upon  the  Old 
Men  and  the  Councillors,  and  then  looked  the 
Chief  upon  the  two  men  who  had  brought  word 
to  Chuaani  from  Kundu,  but  the  three  upon  the 
ground  the  Chief  saw  not,  neither  did  his  eyes 
once  rest  upon  them. 

And  Koloani  spoke  to  the  two  men  of  the 
Chief  Kundu  and  said : 

"  Hear,  ye  men  of  Kundu,  and  take  my  words 
to  your  Chief  and  say,  '  From  Koloani,  Chief  of 
Moali,  and  its  villages  and  land,  to  Kundu.  Thou 
hast  come  in  the  night,  stealthily,  as  becomes  thy 
name  well,  and  hast  fallen  upon  my  House  and 
upon  the  Houses  of  my  Friends.  Thou  hast  slain 
them;  men  of  honour  and  their  sons!  In  the 
darkness  it  was  done. 

"  '  And  thou  hast  lied  to  my  people,  and  with 
cunning  entered  into  Moali,  my  village. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  97 

"  '  This  all  thou  hast  done,  Kundu,  Creeper  by 
Night!  But  it  is  against  me,  Koloani,  that  thou 
hast  worked  this  evil  and  not  against  my  Peo- 
ple. Neither  will  I  cause  this  nation  to  destroy 
itself  by  fighting  the  one  against  the  other. 
Rather  shall  those  White  People  who  have  de- 
cided between  me  and  thee  come  again  and  bring 
peace  to  the  land  by  utterly  destroying  thee  and 
thy  House,  and  laying  thy  place  bare. 

" '  I  go  now  to  bring  my  charge  against  thee 
to  the  White  Men  and  to  make  known  that  which 
thou  hast  done.  Kundu !  "  The  thief  eats  thun- 
derbolts." Beware  of  me  when  I  come  again.' " 

And  Koloani  said  to  the  two  men,  "  These,  my 
words,  bring  to  Kundu,  and  let  him  prepare 
quickly,  for  before  the  rising  of  the  moon  I  shall 
be  far  upon  my  way." 

Then  the  Chief  looked  round  once  more  upon 
the  Old  Men.  And  he  turned  to  Chuaani,  the 
Hairy  One,  and  said,  "  Remain  in  peace,  Chua- 
ani, my  uncle,  thou  and  all  this  people."  And 
Koloani  went  out  from  the  Place  of  Council,  and 
Chuaani  followed  after  the  Chief. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

"HUNGER  BRINGS  THE  CROCODILE  OUT  OF 
THE  WATER" 

Now  when  they  came  to  the  sabolo  of  Chuaani, 
Koloani  said,  "  Return  thou,  my  uncle,  and  let 
the  men  be  kept  here  until  I  have  set  forth.  Place 
good  food  before  them,  and  drink,  that  their 
bellies  speak  well  of  thee. 

"  And  speak  thou  and  thy  Old  Men  even  lightly 
of  me  before  them ;  and  bow  thy  head  before 
Kundu,  and  send  presents  to  him  by  men  of  thy 
council.  It  must  be  so.  I  go  now  to  prepare 
and  will  send  for  thee  when  I  am  ready." 

And  Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One,  came  again  to 
the  Khothla,  and  did  as  the  Chief  had  said.  And 
he  gave  orders,  and  a  fat  goat  was  brought  in  and 
shown  to  the  men,  and  the  goat  was  then  taken 
out  and  killed  to  be  meat  for  them. 

Then  Chuaani  called  two  of  the  Councillors  by 
name,  and  they  went  out ;  and  Chuaani  said,  "  Ye 
have  heard  the  word  of  the  Chief,  will  ye  go 
98 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  99 

with  him?"  And  the  two  spoke  together  and 
said,  "  We  will  go  with  the  Chief." 

And  Chuaani  said,  "  It  is  good.  Seek  ye  now 
ten  men  of  valour  and  understanding  for  a  guard, 
that  the  Chief  shall  not  go  unattended.  When 
ye  are  ready  send  word." 

One  of  these  councillors  was  Matauw,  a  man 
of  great  strength  and  stature;  and  the  other  was 
Spalodi,  of  the  House  of  Sepeke,  a  man  of  high 
rank.  And  Matauw  had  knowledge  of  the  White 
Tongue  to  speak  it,  for  he  had  served  the  White 
People  for  money,  and  had  dwelt  at  their 
places. 

And  Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One,  returned  again 
to  the  Place  of  Council,  for  the  men  were  still 
there;  and  meat,  on  the  skin  of  the  goat,  was 
brought  in  and  put  before  the  men,  and  a  fire 
was  quickly  made;  and  the  men  took  sticks  with 
sharp  points,  and  on  one  end  they  stuck  pieces 
of  meat,  and  the  other  end  was  forced  into  the 
ground  so  that  the  meat  would  be  over  the  fire. 
And  corn-meal  which  had  been  cooked  was 
brought  in  bowls  by  women. 

The  women  then  brought  in  a  great  clay  pot 


100  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

which  was  full  of  beer  made  from  corn,  and  this, 
also,  they  placed  before  the  men. 

Then,  when  the  women  had  gone  out,  Chuaani 
took  the  ladle  which  floated  on  the  beer  in  the 
pot,  and  when  he  had  cleared  away  the  froth  from 
the  beer,  Chuaani  dipped  the  ladle  in  and  rilled 
it,  and  drank  all  the  beer  that  was  in  the  ladle 
that  not  a  drop  remained. 

This  is  a  ceremony  of  those  people,  and  it  has 
a  name  which  means  "  Taking  the  poison  out," 
and  without  this  doing  the  strangers  would  not 
have  drunk  of  the  beer. 

When  Chuaani  had  quite  finished  he  handed 
the  ladle  to  the  first  of  the  five  men,  and  they  all, 
in  turns,  drank  of  the  beer.  And  they  took  the 
meat  and  the  meal  together  in  their  hands  and 
ate  heartily.  And  Chuaani  went  out  again. 

And  the  Old  Men  and  those  in  the  Council 
spoke  well  with  the  two  men  of  the  Chief,  Kundu, 
and  shook  their  heads  and  clicked  their  tongues 
when  speaking  of  the  Chief,  Koloani,  and  spoke 
lightly  of  him.  But  this  they  did  for  a  purpose. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

"  WHEN  THE  JACKAL  CROSSES  A  MEADOW  HE 
CURLS  HIS  TAIL  DOWN" 

WHEN  Chuaani  came  again  to  his  house  the 
Chief,  and  Jamba  with  him,  stood  within  the 
gate,  and  Chuaani  said,  "  Two  men  of  my  Coun- 
cil will  go  with  thee,  O  Chief :  Matauw,  a  man 
of  strength  and  wise  in  action,  whom  thou  know- 
est,  and  Spalodi,  of  the  House  of  Sepeke;  and 
with  them,  also,  ten  men  of  valour  to  obey  thy 
word." 

And  the  Chief  said,  "  My  good  uncle !  I  thank 
thee." 

While  they  were  yet  speaking  came  Spalodi 
and  Matauw,  and  with  them  the  ten  men  whom 
they  had  chosen,  and  they  stood  before  the  Chief 
and  saluted  him.  And  Koloani  looked  upon  the 
men  and  knew  that  they  were  men  of  knowledge 
and  good  standing.  Each  man  held  two  spears 
and  two  sticks,  and  his  blanket  was  on  his 
shoulder. 

Now,  when  all  was  ready,  The  Chief  Koloani 
turned  to  Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One,  and  said,  "  Be 
101 


102  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

watchful,  Man  of  My  House.  Rest  ever  on  the 
hill-top  that  nothing  can  move  without  thou  seest 
it.  Trust  not  Kundu,  for  his  face  will  be  against 
thee  because  of  me.  Send  word  quickly  of  all 
doings  which  are  of  concern  to  me,  and  my  word 
shall  also  come  to  thee.  Now,  farewell,  till  I 
come  again." 

Then  Koloani,  the  Chief,  and  Chuaani,  the 
Hairy  One,  struck  their  hands  together,  and  Chua- 
ani said,  "  Go  in  good  way,  Chief  of  Thy  House ! 
It  shall  be  as  thou  hast  said." 

Then  Koloani  stepped  forward,  and  Jamba  fol- 
lowed close  behind  the  Chief,  and  Spalodi  and 
Matauw  were  with  him,  and  the  ten  men  came 
on  behind  them. 

Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One,  went  also  a  little  way. 
And  they  went  out  from  the  village  at  the  back 
not  to  be  seen  of  the  people,  who  would  have  made 
talk  of  what  they  had  seen.  And  when  they  came 
outside  the  village  Chuaani  stood  and  raised  his 
right  arm,  and  the  Chief  and  those  went  forward 
upon  their  way. 

Now,  in  a  little,  when  the  Five  Men  from 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  103 

Moali  had  done  with  eating  and  drinking,  Chua- 
ani,  the  Hairy  One,  came  again  to  the  Place 
of  Council,  and  had  six  head  of  oxen  brought. 

And  Chuaani  spoke  to  the  two  men  of  Kundu 
the  Chief,  and  said,  "  Return  now,  ye  Men  of 
Nilisetsi,  to  the  Great  Chief,  Kundu  and  say 
that  which  ye  have  seen  and  heard  at  this  place. 

"  As  ye  know,  I  am  of  the  House  of  Koloani, 
and  near,  also,  to  Kundu,  Bull  of  Elephants. 
Koloani  came  to  me  and  I  gave  him  place  to 
sleep  and  to  rest  him,  and  I  placed  food  before 
him. 

"  It  is  the  foot  of  a  baboon." 

"  Now  ye  have  heard  his  word  and  he  has  gone 
his  way;  for  I  am  near  to  him  in  blood  and 
might  not  hinder  him.  But  Koloani  was  not  born 
to  rule  as  Chief,  and  could  not  keep  that  which 
was  given  him.  As  a  poor  man  who  has  become 
rich  by  sudden  fortune,  he  sported  with  his  Wives 
and  considered  not  his  affairs. 

"  But  Kundu  is  Chief  born,  and  this  Land  and 
this  People  are  his ;  and,  as  a  strong  water  sweeps 
away  that  which  divides  the  river,  so  he  has 
made  this  nation  one  again  to  rule  over  it. 


104$  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

"  Take,  now,  my  greeting,  and  the  greeting  of 
this  village  to  Kundu  and  say  that  our  hearts  are 
with  him  in  this  thing;  and  that  we  look  not 
to  that  Wanderer  any  more  to  consider  him. 

"  And  three  from  my  Council  shall  return  with 
ye  to  speak  for  this  Village  before  the  Chief  and 
to  hear  the  Word  of  the  Chief,  Kundu." 

Then  Chuaani  spoke  with  the  Men  of  his  Coun- 
cil, and  three  men  of  good  family  stepped  out 
and  went  to  their  huts  and  came  again  with  their 
blankets — but  they  brought  no  spears  with  them. 

And  Chuaani  gave  them  the  six  head  of  oxen 
which  were  to  be  as  a  present  to  the  Chief,  Kundu. 
And  when  he  had  given  them  his  last  word  the 
men  from  Moali  stood  up  and  gave  greeting  to 
Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One,  and  went  out  from  the 
Khothla  and  from  the  village  by  the  Great  Gate; 
and  went  on  their  way  to  return  to  Moali,  where 
the  Chief,  Kundu,  still  was. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

"CAUTION  COMES  AFTER  RECEIVING  A 
WOUND" 

"  Famine  compels  one  to  eat  the  fruit  of  all  sorts 
of  trees." 

Now,  Koloani,  the  Chief,  and  those  with  him, 
when  they  had  gone  round  by  the  Black  Rocks 
came  not  again  to  the  road,  but  continued  straight 
on  into  the  low  hills  which  are  for  a  border  be- 
tween Moali  and  that  Land  which  belonged  to 
another  Chief,  whose  name  was  Kamalubi.  This 
they  did  because  they  had  not  good  faith  in  all 
the  people  of  those  parts;  and  that  they  should 
not  meet  men  of  Kundu  who  might  have  been  sent 
against  them. 

And  they  travelled  with  great  speed,  so  that 
with  the  setting  of  the  moon  they  had  come  to 
the  valley  which  is  called  Manganita ;  and  nought 
had  hindered  them  by  the  way. 

When  they  had  entered  into  the  valley  and 
had  come  to  a  part  where  bushes  are  thick,  Kolo- 
ani said,  "  We  will  rest  here,  my  brothers,  until 
105 


106  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

the  turn  of  the  night,  and  then  go  on  until  we 
come  to  the  Matsusi."  And  they  said,  "  It  is 
good,  O  Chief." 

Then  some  of  the  men  cleared  a  space  and 
they  all  cast  down  their  blankets,  and  when  they 
had  eaten  of  the  meat  which  they  had  brought, 
they  lay  down  with  their  spears  beside  them  and 
slept 

The  ten  men,  also,  slept  close  to  them;  but  by 
twos  they  kept  watch  through  the  night;  and  no 
fire  was  made  at  that  place. 

"  Sleep  has  no  friendship." 

About  the  turn  of  the  night  one  of  those  who 
kept  watch  went  to  Matauw  and  spoke  to  him; 
and  he  sat  up  and,  seeing  that  it  was  time,  he 
spoke  aloud,  and  all  those  with  him  were  at  once 
awake  and  quickly  on  their  feet.  When  they 
had  drawn  their  blankets  around  them  the  Chief 
gave  word,  and  two  of  the  men  led  the  way  out 
from  the  bushes. 

Now  there  were  stars  in  the  sky,  but  the  night 
was  dark  so  that  they  could  not  travel  quickly, 
and  at  the  breaking  of  the  day  they  were  yet  far 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  107 

from  the  Matsusi.  But  now  they  moved  with 
greater  speed,  and  presently  they  came  to  a  path, 
and  the  Chief  said  they  might  hold  the  path;  and 
this  went  down  to  the  bottom  of  the  valley  to 
the  stream  which  is  called  Nuka.  And  here  they 
stopped  and  threw  water  upon  their  faces,  and 
drank. 

Then  Koloani  gave  a  sign,  and  Spalodi  and 
Matauw  and  the  others  moved  quietly  along  the 
path. 

Now,  in  a  little,  they  came  to  the  end  of  the 
valley,  Manganita,  where  the  stream,  Nuka,  runs 
into  the  river  Matsusi  and  when  they  were  at  the 
river  they  paused  only  to  roll  their  blankets  round 
their  spears  and  sticks,  then,  holding  the  blankets 
over  their  heads,  they  entered  the  river  and 
crossed  over. 

The  Matsusi  is  a  wide  river,  and  deep,  and 
is  held  as  a  border  between  the  Land  of  the  White 
People  and  the  Land  of  the  Black  People.  And 
when  Koloani  and  those  had  crossed  the 
river  they  had  no  longer  fear  of  the  Chief, 
Kundu. 

So  now  they  went  up  a  little  way  from  the 


108  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

river  and  sat  under  a  tree  upon  the  grass.  And 
the  Chief  sat  up  against  the  tree,  and  Spalodi  and 
Matauw  and  Jamba  sat  near  him.  But  the  ten 
men  who  were  with  them  sat  a  little  distance  from 
them. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

"THE  MOUTH  IS  THE  SISTER  OF  THE  ROAD" 
Now,  when  they  had  spoken  of  the  way  and 
knew  how  they  should  go  from  this  place  on, 
Koloani,  the  Chief,  turned  his  face  to  Spalodi  and 
said,  "  Son  of  Sepeke !  Thou  hast  fame  as  one 
learned  in  many  things  and  of  a  pleasant  tongue, 
so  that  meat  will  become  cold  in  the  hand  of  a 
man  while  he  listens  to  thee.  While  we  rest  here 
let  us  not  feed  upon  our  troubles,  but  do  thou  tell 
us  of  that  which  comes  to  thy  mind." 

Then  Spalodi,  when  he  had  thought  a  little 
what  kind  of  telling  would  be  well  for  this  time 
and  pleasing  to  the  Chief,  looked  up  into  the 
tree,  and  sitting  with  his  legs  crossed  before  him 
began  to  sing  softly. 

But  as  the  Spirit  of  the  Song  came  on  him  his 
arms  began  to  move,  and  he  swayed  as  he  sat; 
and  sometimes  his  eye  flashed  and  his  hands 
clenched  tightly;  and  sometimes  his  voice  was 
soft  and  low,  and  then  swelled  with  words  of 
109 


110  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

triumph;  and  now  there  would  be  jeering  in  his 

tone  and  scorn,  and,  again,  pity. 

And  sometimes  the  words  would  be  short  and 
hard — and  then  Spalodi  hummed  from  his  chest 
between  the  words — and  then  they  would  come 
rippling  like  water  between  the  stones.  But  the 
time  and  the  movement  were  in  the  song,  for 
Spalodi  had  music  within  him. 

And  this  was  the  Song  of  Spalodi  which  he 
sang  to  Koloani,  the  Chief. 

THE  SONG  OF  SPALODI 
Sopadi!  Sopadi! 
Sing  of  Sopadi. 

Sopadi  the  son  of  Bok,  the  son  of  Phuti, 
The  son  of  Moramok  who  threw  the  ox. 
Sing  of  Sopadi.    The  lion  of  strength. 
He  slew  the  Nogankulu,1 
Alone  he  slew  the  Mighty  One. 
The  Long  One.     The  fearsome  One. 
The  Mighty  Snake. 
Who  looks  on  Nogankulu? 
Swift  was  he  and  fierce. 

1  Pronounce  Noga-nkulu. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  111 

What  was  like  him  for  strength? 

He  crushed  the  young  ox, 

He  swallowed  the  roe. 

Fly!  Fly  from  Nogankulu, 

The  Mighty  Snake. 

He  is  fearsome  to  behold. 

The  length  of  three  tall  men  is  he, 

Thick  is  he  as  the  thigh  of  a  man. 

As  a  tree  for  strength. 

The  long  one.     The  fearsome  one. 

Give  way  for  Nogankulu. 

He  looks  upon  the  deer  and  it  is  bound, 

The  young  deer  stands  before  him. 

Look  not  upon  his  eye ! 

Black  and  small  is  the  eye  of  Nogankulu 

But  a  mighty  chain  to  bind. 

Ha!  Devil!  why  art  thou  here? 

The  evil  spirit  of  a  man. 

A  murderer!  A  tyrant!  A  slayer  of  men! 

By  men  must  thou  be  slain. 

And  where  to,  then,  foul  spirit? 

The  Chief  has  called  for  Sopadi. 
Phalot,  the  Chief  of  Kalaming. 


112  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

Ho !  Sopadi.  Ho !  Sopadi,  the  Chief  is  calling. 

Who  is  this  coming  to  the  Chief? 

The  men  look  upon  him. 

Sopadi  the  son  of  Bok,  the  son  of  Phuti, 

The  son  of  Moramok  who  threw  the  ox. 

'Tis  good  to  look  on  a  tall  man, 

Straight  and  tall  and  shapely  made, 

Clean  in  his  stride.     Supple  and  free. 

Sopadi,  the  son  of  Bok! 

Turn  again  to  see  him. 

Deep  is  his  chest.    His  voice  hangs  in  the  air. 

Beauty  and  strength  are  in  his  limbs. 

As  a  young  lion  he. 

Happy  art  thou,  Phalot! 

Sopadi,  of  thy  House,  comes  before  thee. 

The  Chiefs  will  envy  thee  thy  man. 

Spoke  Phalot,  the  Chief, 

"  Sopadi,  Man  of  Ours !  hear  me ! 

Take  greeting  to  Mantapi, 

Chief  of  Kwanu,  by  the  Stream. 

When  they  bring  thee  to  the  Chief 

Say  Phalot  greets  him. 

Place  thy  right  hand  on  thy  brow, 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  113 

Touch  thy  navel  with  thy  left. 

Should  he  question, 

Fold  thine  arms  and  stand. 

The  Chief  will  know  my  meaning. 

He  will  read  the  signs. 

I  call  thee,  Mona  'Hesu, 

That  the  message  shall  be  swift. 

White  or  red  depends  on  thee, 

Peace  upon  the  land  or  woe." 

Sing  of  Sopadi. 

As  the  deer  for  fleetness. 

Tireless  went  he  as  the  wolf. 

In  his  hand  his  spear. 

Two  sticks  had  he  and  a  spear. 

A  great  way  was  it  to  the  river 

Where  was  the  village  Kwanu. 

His  kaross  was  at  his  back 

Rolled  and  fastened  with  a  thong. 

Of  jackal  skins  and  many  rabbit  skins 

He  made  his  kaross. 

Sopadi  the  son  of  Bok. 

Who  could  run  with  Sopadi  ? 

He  sang  upon  the  way  a  war  song, 


114  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

Of  love  sang  he  also, 

Humming  deeply  in  his  chest. 

Running  lightly  on  the  path 

By  Popali  through  the  bush. 

Who  could  pass  Sopadi? 

Seek  not  the  print  of  his  heel. 

Sopadi,  the  fleet  one!     Strong  and  swift. 

Over  the  rugged  hills  where  the  trees  are  few, 

Down  the  broken  path  to  the  plain; 

Sopadi  sang  upon  the  way. 

Straight  is  the  path  to  Mosiletsi. 

Little  Water,  shallow  and  slow. 

The  path  goes  with  the  stream, 

The  village  is  near. 

Mangeni,  the  village  of  Pamambi, 

Whose  people  are  few. 

The  path  goes  with  the  stream 

And  the  rock  is  in  the  way. 

The  great  rock,  round  and  smooth. 

It  lies  upon  the  bank.    It  cuts  the  path. 

How  came  the  great  rock  there? 

It  stands  alone. 

Higher  than  two  men,  and  round ; 

Oxen  could  not  move  it. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  115 

The  path  goes  round  the  great  rock 
Near  to  the  stream. 
Sopadi  sang  upon  the  way. 
Red  was  the  blood  in  his  veins,  and  strong. 
In  his  right  hand  was  his  spear. 
Noiseless  were  his  feet.    Springing  on  his  toes. 
Never  pausing  at  the  rock 
He  kept  the  path  in  his  stride. 
Ha!  Nogankulu! 
Sing  of  Sopadi. 

Sopadi  the  son  of  Bok,  the  son  of  Phuti. 
He  stepped  upon  the  Great  Snake. 
The  Long  One.    The  Fearsome  One. 
How  swift  was  the  movement! 
How  terrible  and  swift. 
Sopadi  and  the  Great  Snake. 
The  coils  shot  up, 

In  a  movement  of  the  eye  around  him. 
The  sticks  were  gone. 
Thy  fathers  watched  thee,  Sopadi. 
Bok  and  Phuti  and  Moramok. 
They  fought  with  thee. 
His  left  hand  grasped  the  neck. 
Nogankulu !  Nogankulu !    Thou  art  held  by  a  man. 


116  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

Could  twelve  men  hold  the  great  snake? 

His  chest  was  free  and  his  arms. 

Thy  fathers  watched  over  thee. 

Once  the  spear  drove  through  the  coil. 

Flung  to  the  ground  and  thrown  in  the  air. 

The  spear  was  gone. 

Both  hands  grasped  the  neck. 

The  coils  were  round  his  legs, 

How  tight  they  pressed  him. 

As  under  a  great  rock: 

As  held  within  the  drying  hide. 

Hold,  Sopadi:  keep  the  head  down. 

How  they  strain! 

They  roll  upon  the  ground. 

Ha!  Nogankulu,  thy  head  has  it. 

The  tail  flies  out. 

What  a  whirlwind  is  it  now! 

Can  a  man  live  in  it? 

They  stand.    They  fall. 

They  fly  in  the  air. 

Why  don't  you  bite,  Nogankulu? 

Is  your  head  held? 

Tis  only  a  man  who  holds  you! 

Dashed  down  again. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  117 

Thy  mouth  is  full  of  sand,  Nogankulu. 

See  the  great  body  writhing  and  thrashing; 

The  length  of  three  tall  men  is  he. 

Sing  of  Sopadi. 

Whirled  around,  crushed  and  bruised; 

No  pause  is  here  for  breath. 

Keep  tight  thy  hands. 

Snake  and  Man.     Man  and  Snake. 

There  is  no  tree  near,  Nogankulu ! 

The  Rock  is  smooth ;  it  is  too  large  for  thee. 

Roll  and  lash  and  twist  and  heave. 

No  sound  made  Sopadi. 

His  legs  were  dead. 

Ha!  Nogankulu  thy  head  is  crushed. 

Can  a  man  fight  with  the  great  snake? 

Sopadi  held  the  neck. 

With  every  fall  the  head  was  crushed; 

He  drove  it  into  the  ground; 

The  weight  of  his  body  crushed  it. 

What  was  his  weight  to  Nogankulu? 

As  the  weight  of  a  stick  to  a  man. 

Great  was  the  rage  of  Nogankulu. 

High  in  the  air  flung  he  round. 

The  sand  rose  as  a  cloud. 


118  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

Dashed  to  the  ground  five  strides  away, 

Sopadi  held  the  neck. 

Ho!  for  the  strength  of  Sopadi. 

What  is  a  man  in  the  coils  of  the  great  snake? 

He  crushed  the  young  Ox  against  the  tree ! 

There  is  no  tree  here,  Nogankulu. 

Lashing  and  writhing.    Again  in  the  air. 

Ho!  Nogankulu.    Why  don't  you  look? 

On  the  edge  of  the  bank  they  fall, 

They  roll  down  into  the  water. 

Terrible  is  the  fight. 

Faint  not,  Sopadi;  Man  of  might! 

Thou  shalt  overcome  the  evil  spirit. 

The  stream  runs  on  a  rocky  bed. 

Sopadi  held  the  neck. 

He  crushes  the  head  on  the  rock. 

The  jaws  are  broken  and  the  head  is  smashed; 

Soft  and  pulpy  is  the  head, 

Why  don't  you  die,  Nogankulu?     You  have  no 

head. 

Flung  round  again.     Not  a  moment  still. 
There  is  blood  in  thy  stream,  Mosiletsi. 
Sopadi  and  the  Great  Snake. 
Their  blood  mixes  in  the  water. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  119 

But  now  there  is  no  dust; 

The  water  showers  round. 

Bruised  and  battered  is  Sopadi. 

Hold  on  with  thy  hands ! 

Nogankulu !  Nogankulu !    How  is  it  with  thee  ? 

Thou  Fearsome  One! 

Canst  thou  fight  without  a  head? 

The  spear  has  pierced  thee  also. 

Ha!  Nogankulu,  thy  strength  wanes; 

Thou  writhest  on  the  ground ; 

Sopadi  holds  thy  head  beneath  his  chest; 

He  grinds  it  on  the  rock. 

Sing  of  Sopadi.    Sing  of  Sopadi. 

Sopadi  the  son  of  Bok,  the  son  of  Phuti, 

The  son  of  Moramok  who  threw  the  ox. 

There  is  shouting  of  men; 
They  spring  down  upon  the  snake. 
Ho!  Nogankulu,  thou  Mighty  One! 
Can  men  hold  thy  body? 
He  flings  them  round.    They  fall  about. 
Again  they  come. 

There  are  many.     And  with  great  weight  they 
hold  thee; 


120  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

And  thy  strength  is  gone,  Mighty  Snake. 

One  who  herded  goats  saw  Sopadi, 
Heard  his  song  and  watched  him  go. 
He  saw  the  fight  commence, 
Shouting,  ran  to  Mangeni. 
Three  stones'  throw  was  the  village. 
Called  the  men  and  brought  them 
Five  stones'  throw  back  to  the  stream. 
Does  it  seem  a  little  while? 
Go,  then!    Ask  Sopadi. 

They  cut  the  head  from  Nogankulu. 

Where  now,  Evil  Spirit? 

Gently  they  bathed  Sopadi  in  the  water. 

Then  they  raised  him  to  the  bank. 

Sopadi  smiled  upon  them. 

They  moved  his  legs  apart. 

Can  men  bear  such  pain? 

In  turn  they  beat  upon  his  legs. 

They  carried  him  to  the  village. 

They  beat  upon  his  legs  and  rubbed  him. 

They  poured  oil  upon  his  head, 

Upon  his  shoulders,  his  arms,  and  his  back. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  121 

For  there  was  no  skin  left  on  him. 
Sing  of  Sopadi.    Sopadi,  the  son  of  Bok. 
Never  ceasing  they  beat  upon  his  legs, 
From  his  hips  they  beat  upon  him. 

a 

Sing  of  Sopadi. 

They  brought  him  on  an  ox  to  Kwanu. 
Upon  a  running  ox. 
Who  can  speak  of  the  pain? 
Sing  of  Sopadi. 
To  the  village  by  the  stream 
From  Mangeni  he  rode  upon  the  ox, 
Had  his  Chief  not  sent  him? 
Came  to  the  village  Kwanu. 
Raw  his  flesh  and  naked 
For  his  wounds. 

Wondering  they  gathered  round. 
Knew  not  Sopadi 
Till  he  gave  his  name. 
Then  they  helped  him, 
Held  his  hands  and  led  him 
Till  he  stood  before  the  Chief. 
"  Kalaming  doth  greet  thee." 
Placed  his  right  hand  on  his  brow. 


122  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

Touched  his  navel  with  his  left. 

Spoke  Mantapi,  "  Had  the  Chief 

No  other  word  to  send, 

Sign  or  speech  or  token  ?  " 

Upright  stood  Sopadi. 

Cross'd  his  arms  upon  his  chest. 

Thus  the  message  of  the  Chief 

Went  from  Kalaming  to  Kwanu  by  the  Stream. 

Ho !  Nogankulu ! 

Peace  is  in  the  land. 

Laid  ye  wait  then,  Evil  One? 

Cunning  and  fearsome. 

What  could  prevail  against  Sopadi  ? 

Upright  and  brave, 

Strong  as  the  young  lion. 

Sing  of  Sopadi; 

Sopadi,  the  son  of  Bok. 

Sing  of  Sopadi. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

"THE  FINEST  TREES  ARE  FAR  AWAY  IN  THE 
KLOOFS" 

WHEN  they  saw  that  the  Song  was  finished  they 
praised  Spalodi  greatly,  and  the  Chief  spoke 
kindly  to  him  and  thanked  him. 

But  Jamba  went  over  and  sat  down  beside 
Spalodi,  for  he  had  not  heard  such  a  song  before, 
and  it  was  a  wonder  and  a  delight  to  the  young 
man,  and  he  spoke  to  Spalodi ;  and  after  that  these 
two  became  fast  friends. 

And  now,  being  well  rested,  they  came  again 
to  the  road  and  continued  their  journey. 

From  this  place  was  a  broad  road  which  had 
been  made  for  the  wagons  and  the  carts  of  the 
White  People,  and  they  travelled  along  this  open 
road,  having  now  no  fear.  About  the  turn  of 
the  day  they  came  to  a  place  where  they  knew 
there  was  water ;  but  the  water  could  not  be  seen 
because  it  ran  through  the  sand,  and  the  heat  of 
the  sun  made  it  appear  as  dry  sand  only. 
128 


124  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

And  when  they  had  found  a  shady  place  to 
rest,  one  of  the  men  went  down  and  dug  a  hole 
in  the  sand  with  his  hands.  And  another  went 
into  a  corn-land  near  by  and  found  an  old  gourd, 
which  he  scraped  with  a  stone.  And  he  rubbed 
the  gourd  with  sand  and  washed  it.  Then,  when 
the  water  had  become  clean  in  the  hole,  they 
brought  water  in  the  gourd  to  the  Chief  and  the 
others,  and  all  the  men  went  down  to  the  hole  and 
drank. 

And  they  slept  at  this  place,  for  the  day  was 
hot  and  they  had  come  far;  and  near  the  close 
of  the  day  they  set  forth  again. 

When  they  had  gone  some  way  they  left  the 
big  road  and  moved  again  on  a  path  which  led 
steeply  out  from  the  valley.  It  was  over  the 
top  of  the  hill  at  this  part,  and  not  at  a  great  dis- 
tance, where  the  White  People  would  be  found. 

And  near  the  setting  of  the  moon  they  came 
to  a  spring  with  clear  water,  and  the  Chief  said, 
"  We  will  sleep  here,  my  brothers,  that  we  may 
come  refreshed  and  with  clear  eyes  before  the 
White  People  in  the  morning."  So  they  prepared 
their  places  and  slept  there  that  night. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  125 

In  the  morning,  before  the  sun  rose,  Koloani, 
the  Chief,  spoke  to  Matauw :  "  Matauw,  my 
friend,  take  now  two  of  the  men  with  thee  and 
go  before  us  to  the  camp  of  the  White  Men. 
And  when  thou  hast  found  one  in  authority,  make 
known  that  I,  Koloani,  am  coming  and  will 
quickly  be  at  the  camp  to  speak  with  them  on 
matters  which  concern  them  and  me.  When  the 
sun  has  risen  we  will  follow  after  thee." 

Matauw  struck  his  hands  together  and  said, 
"  I  have  heard,  Chief." 

Then  Matauw  went  to  the  men  and  called  two 
of  them,  and  they  took  up  their  blankets  and  went 
off. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

"THE  COW  LICKS  THE  ONE  THAT  LICKS  HER" 
WHEN  the  sun  had  risen  a  little  way,  Koloani, 
the  Chief,  and  Spalodi  and  Jamba,  and  the  men 
came  again  to  the  road.  And  before  the  sun  was 
hot  they  came  to  a  rise  from  which  they  could 
see  the  place  of  the  White  Men  not  far  from 
them. 

And  first  they  saw  a  large  white  house  built 
after  the  manner  of  the  White  People,  so  that 
many  might  dwell  together  in  it.  Not  far  from 
the  house  were  kraals,  built  of  loose  stones,  for 
cattle  and  sheep;  and  there  was  also  a  place  of 
many  trees,  which  were  all  trees  of  fruit  which 
was  good  to  eat. 

And  Koloani  and  those  saw  wagons  and  carts 
close  to  the  house  which  were  outspanned,  and 
oxen  and  horses  were  feeding  on  a  rise.  And  as 
they  came  nearer  they  saw  that  many  men  were 
at  the  house  and  about  the  place. 

Now,  he  who  lived  at  this  house  was  the  one 
126 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  127 

appointed  by  the  White  People  to  deal  with  the 
tribes  in  that  part;  to  hear  the  complaints  of 
Chiefs  and  to  decide  between  them. 

Also  he  came  at  certain  seasons  into  their  coun- 
try to  take  money  from  the  Black  People;  and 
when  they  had  not  money  cattle  were  taken,  or 
sheep  or  goats,  for  the  White  People  were  strong 
and  could  do  this  thing. 

The  name  of  this  man,  as  he  was  known  to 
Koloani  and  the  others,  was  "  Seatlata,"  which 
is  to  say  "He  of  the  Heavy  Hand." 

Now  while  the  Chief  was  yet  a  stone's  throw 
from  the  house  came  Matauw  to  meet  him,  and 
with  him  a  White  Man,  and  when  they  came  to- 
gether the  White  Man  held  out  his  hand  to  the 
Chief  and  greeted  him,  and  said  in  his  own 
tongue,  "My  father,  Seatlata,  greets  thee,  Chief, 
and  asks  that  you  rest  under  the  wattle-tree  and 
he  will  come  to  thee  shortly." 

And  when  Matauw  had  given  this  word  to  the 
Chief,  Koloani  said,  "  Give  my  greetings,  also,  to 
Seatlata,  and  say  I  will  await  him  as  he  has 
said." 

Then  the  young  White  Man  went  down  with 


128  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

the  Chief,  and  when  he  had  brought  him  to  the 
wattle-tree  he  went  back  again  to  the  house. 

And  Matauw  spoke  to  Koloani  and  said  "  The 
men  who  came  with  me  have  spoken  with  those 
who  herd  the  cattle  and  the  horses,  Chief,  and 
they  say  these  White  Men  are  greatly  troubled 
because  they  are  beaten  in  fight  with  those  who 
have  come  against  them  from  over  the  Great  Salt 
Water.  And  now  certain  leaders  of  them  are  met 
together  here  to  consider  what  they  shall  do." 

And  Koloani  was  sad  at  this  word,  and  he  said, 
"  Have  I,  then,  brought  my  complaint  to  a  sick 
doctor?" 

Then  one  came  from  a  kraal  carrying  a  sheep 
on  his  shoulders,  and  when  he  stood  before  them 
he  put  the  sheep  down  and  said,  "  My  master 
sends  this  sheep  to  the  Chief  for  meat."  And 
Koloani  said,  "  Give  my  thanks  to  thy  master." 

And  corn-meal  was  also  brought,  and  an  iron 
pot  which  stood  on  three  legs. 

Then  one  of  the  men  took  the  sheep  away  and 
killed  it  and  prepared  it.  And  a  fire  was  made, 
and  the  men  got  bowls  from  the  house  and  water 
was  brought.  And  when  water  had  been  put  into 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  129 

the  iron  pot  and  boiled  over  the  fire,  the  corn- 
meal  was  poured  in  and  cooked,  and  it  was  stirred 
with  a  stick  until  the  meal  was  thick  and  could 
be  broken  with  the  fingers.  And  the  meat  was 
also  brought  and  cooked  over  another  fire  which 
the  men  had  made. 

And  when  all  had  eaten  there  was  not  any  of 
the  meat  left,  for  they  had  had  little  food  for 
two  days,  and  were  hungry. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

"  THE  CHILD  THAT  DOES  NOT  CRY  DIES  ON  ITS 
MOTHER'S  BACK" 

IN  a  little  while,  when  they  had  finished  eating, 
came  three  men  towards  them  from  the  house, 
and  one  of  these  was  an  old  man  with  a  grey 
beard  which  fell  to  the  span  of  a  hand  below  his 
chin.  And  he  was  of  greater  height  than  Ma- 
tauw,  and  broader;  yet  Matauw  was  a  very  big 
man.  He  walked  upright  and  straight ;  and  when 
he  came  nearer  it  was  seen  that  the  colour  of  his 
face  was  pink,  as  are  the  faces  of  the  young 
amongst  the  White  People,  so  that  he  appeared 
to  be  a  young  man  with  a  grey  beard.  His  eyes, 
also,  were  strong  and  of  the  colour  of  a  clear 
sky. 

This  man  was  "  He  of  the  Heavy  Hand,"  Seat- 
lata,  and  he  was  known  to  all  the  tribes  through- 
out that  land. 

Now  the  White  Men  came  up,  and  Seatlata 
stepped  before  the  others  and  came  to  the  Chief, 
130 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  131 

Koloani.  And  Koloani  and  all  those  with  him 
stood  up.  And  Seatlata  shook  the  hand  of  Kolo- 
ani, the  Chief. 

Spalodi  and  Matauw  and  Jamba,  Son  of  Bama, 
and  the  other  men  with  them  struck  their  hands 
together  and  gave  greeting  to  Seatlata  and  the 
White  Men,  saying,  "  Chief,  Great  Chief !  " 

Then  Seatlata,  the  White  Man,  spoke  to  Kolo- 
ani, the  Chief,  and  said,  "  I  am  wondering  to  see 
you  here,  Koloani,  at  this  time,  and  that  you  did 
not  send  me  early  word  that  you  were  coming. 
Let  us  go  now  to  the  House,  and  we  will  talk 
in  a  place  there." 

And  when  Matauw  had  given  this  word  to  the 
Chief  they  went  down  to  the  house.  Seatlata 
walked  first,  and  after  him  walked  Koloani,  the 
Chief,  and  then  came  the  two  White  Men,  and 
after  them  came  Spalodi  and  Matauw  and  the 
young  man,  Jamba.  And  when  they  had  come  to 
a  part  of  the  house  they  all  went  in,  and  the  door 
was  closed  after  them. 

Then  Seatlata  sat  down  in  a  chair  by  a  table 
on  which  were  many  papers,  and  the  two  White 
Men  sat  also  at  the  table,  one  at  each  end.  And 


132  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

a  chair  was  placed  for  the  Chief,  but  Spalodi  and 
the  others  sat  on  the  floor,  near  the  Chief,  with 
their  legs  crossed  before  them. 

And,  when  all  were  seated,  Seatlata  spoke  and 
said,  "  I  am  ready,  Chief,  to  hear  the  reason  of 
thy  coming,  for  Matauw  has  already  told  us  that 
the  matter  is  of  importance.  Speak  now." 

Then  the  eyes  of  Koloani  the  Chief,  shone  out, 
and  he  sat  up  straightly,  and  said,  "  Hear  me, 
Seatlata.  My  words  will  not  be  many.  Thou 
art  here  as  the  Ears  and  the  Eyes  and  the  Tongue 
of  the  White  People  which  rule  this  land; 
to  whom  we  must  listen.  We  are  thy  chil- 
dren. 

"  A  father  having  two  sons  who  cannot  live  to- 
gether in  peace  will  separate  them,  and  say  to  this 
one  '  Dwell  in  this  place,'  and  to  that  one  '  Dwell 
in  that  place/  and  come  ye  hot  again  together  to 
make  trouble.  And  he  who  hears  not  my  word, 
but  goes  to  his  brother's  place  to  make  trouble 
there,  shall  be  driven  out  from  this  land  and  for- 
bidden again  to  return. 

"  Now  if  these  sons  listen  to  their  father  to 
obey  him,  each  will  go  to  his  own  place  and  live 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  133 

in  peace,  taking  no  heed  of  that  which  his  brother 
does.  But  if  one  of  them  hath  blackness  in  his 
heart  he  will  wait  till  the  father  goes  upon  a  jour- 
ney, then  will  he  come  suddenly  upon  his  brother 
and  destroy  him — because  that  one  put  faith  in 
the  words  which  had  been  spoken,  and  was  not 
prepared  for  such,  a  thing." 

And  Koloani  said,  "  Even  so,  my  Father,  has 
it  come  to  me.  My  spears  had  rusted,  and  the 
children  had  taken  them  for  playthings.  My  peo- 
ple went  and  came  with  clean  faces,  and  built 
their  huts  upon  open  ground.  We  stood  no  men 
upon  the  hills,  neither  sent  spies  to  bring  word 
of  what  other  Chiefs  were  doing. 

"  For  we  had  heard  thy  Word,  Seatlata!  The 
word  of  the  White  People  who  rule  in  the  land 
and  who  had  spoken,  even  as  a  Father  to  his  sons, 
between  Kundu  and  me. 

"  But  Kundu  was  born  with  a  black  heart ! 
Four  nights  since  he  sent  murderers  and  slayers 
to  Moali,  my  village.  In  the  depth  of  night  they 
came,  with  spears  in  their  hands  and  without 
noise.  And  they  entered  into  the  village,  and 
slew  all  those  who  were  Great  in  the  village,  and 


134  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

Leaders  and  Councillors  of  the  people.     In  their 
sleep  the  Great  Ones  were  slain." 

"Everything  has  a  price,  but  who  can  put  a 
price  on  blood?  " 

"  Manok,  Long  of  Tooth  and  Wise.  He  was 
friend  of  thine,  Seatlata.  He  and  his  House. 

"  Bama,  the  Warrior,  whom  thou  hast  praised 
because  of  his  straight  tongue  and  open  face; 
he  and  his  sons,  save  only  Jamba,  who  is  here. 

"  Monkapani,  greybearded  and  wise  in  our 
Law,  with  whom  thou  hast  spoken  much ;  he  and 
all  his  sons." 

And  Koloani,  the  Chief,  spoke  the  names  of 
all  those  Great  Ones  who  had  been  slain,  for  they 
had  all  been  known  to  the  White  Man. 

Then  Koloani  said,  "  And  yet  I  live  to  bring 
this  word,  Seatlata ;  for  my  Fathers  had  sent  me 
to  visit  Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One,  who  is  my 
uncle.  And  I  had  taken  with  me  for  company 
only  Jamba,  Son  of  Bama  the  Warrior,  to  the 
village  Tlapakun. 

"  When  the  word  of  evil  was  brought  to  me  I 
made  haste  to  return  to  Moali,  but  those  met  me 
on  the  way  who  said  that  Kundu,  with  a  great 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  135 

force,  had  come  and  with  cunning  had  entered 
into  the  village  saying  to  the  people  that  I  was 
also  dead. 

"  Then  I  returned  to  Chuaani,  my  uncle,  and 
my  people  would  have  at  once  gone  forth  to 
fight  with  Kundu,  but  I  would  not,  for  I  said, 
'Those  White  People  who  rule  the  Land  have 
but  to  come  and  stand  before  Moali,  and  Kundu 
will  crawl  upon  his  belly  to  them.  Why,  then, 
should  the  People  fight  and  slay  each  other  ? ' 

"  And  so  have  I  come  to  thee,  Seatlata,  my 
Father!  And  now,  I  pray  thee,  let  some  of  thy 
people  come  together  quickly,  and  return  with 
me,  that  we  come  upon  Kundu  before  he  works 
greater  evil  amongst  the  people ;  and  also  that  he 
be  brought  to  punishment  for  that  which  he  has 
done.  Hear  me.  Chief !  " 


V 


CHAPTER  XXX 

"ONE  CANNOT  EAT  BOTH  KIDNEYS  OF  THE 
ELEPHANT  AT  ONE  TIME" 

Now  while  Koloani,  the  Chief,  was  speaking  these 
words,  Seatlata,  the  White  Man,  had  shown  great 
wrath  upon  his  face,  and  his  hand  had  pulled 
strongly  upon  his  beard.  And  when  the  Chief 
had  said  all  Seatlata  stood  up,  and  his  chair  fell 
back,  and  he  strode  angrily  up  and  down. 

Then  he  came  again  to  the  table  and  spoke  to 
Koloani,  and  said,  "  Chief,  I  have  heard  thy 
words.  Go  now  again  and  sit  under  the  wattle- 
tree,  for  I  will  hold  council  upon  this  thing  at 
once.  I  will  send  to  thee  in  a  little  while."  So 
Koloani  and  those  with  him  came  again  and  sat 
under  the  tree. 

And  the  sun  came  overhead  and  the  day  turned, 
yet  came  none  from  the  house  to  call  the  Chief 
again. 

But  White  Men  came  from  the  carts  and  from 
the  wagons  and  went  into  the  House,  back  and 
forth;  and  it  was  seen  that  Council  was  being 
186 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  137 

held,  for  some  came  out  holding  argument,  and 
there  was  shaking  of  the  head  and  waving  of  the 
hands,  as  of  men  who  speak  heatedly. 

And  now,  when  it  was  past  the  noon,  there 
came  one  from  the  House  again  to  call  the  Chief, 
and  Matauw  and  the  other  two  went  into  the 
house  with  the  Chief.  And  when  they  were 
brought  into  the  place  again  there  were  other 
White  Men  who  sat  about  the  table,  but  Seatlata 
sat  in  his  chair  between  them. 

And  Seatlata,  the  White  Man,  who  ruled  over 
all  that  part,  said,  "  Koloani,  Chief !  We  have 
held  council  and  spoken  over  that  which  you  have 
told  us,  of  Kundu  and  the  slaying  of  your  Peo- 
ple. Kundu  has  seen  that  we  are  righting  against 
an  Enemy  in  the  Land  and  that  our  hands  are 
very  full  with  this  matter;  and  so  he  has  dared 
to  laugh  in  our  faces.  He  shall  surely  die  for 
this  thing." 

"The  lynx  says,  'I  am  fleet  of  foot,'  but  the 
plains  say,  '  We  are  wide.' " 

"  But  at  this  time,  Koloani,  can  no  White  Men 
go  in  with  thee  against  Kundu.  You  must  even 
be  content  to  wait  until  the  time  when  we  have 


138  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

swept  our  own  enemy  out  of  the  land.  It  will 
not  be  many  days  ere  we  have  done  this,  but 
now  have  we  not  a  man  who  can  be  spared  to  go 
with  you  to  Moali." 

And  when  the  Chief  would  have  begged  for 
twenty  White  Men,  or  ten,  Seatlata  said,  "  Nay, 
Chief,  we  have  spoken  much  over  this  matter,  and 
would  fain  grant  thy  wish  and  send  in  and  de- 
stroy Kundu,  with  all  those  who  have  counselled 
him  evilly.  But  there  are  even  greater  matters 
before  us,  and  we  must  deal  with  Kundu  later. 

"  As  for  thyself,  Koloani,  it  is  as  thou  wilt. 
Either  can  you  remain  here  and  I  will  find  a  place 
for  you  and  your  people,  or,  if  you  would  go  to 
any  other  place  I  will  not  hinder  you." 

And  when  they  had  spoken  a  little  more,  and 
Koloani  saw  that  he  could  not  move  the  White 
Man  from  that  which  he  had  said,  the  Chief  went 
out  again,  and  those  with  him,  and  they  came  to 
the  wattle-tree  and  sat  down.  And  they  were  all 
sore  at  heart. 

Now  the  day  was  closing,  and  one  came  from 
the  House  saying  that  Seatlata  had  sent  him  to 
show  the  Chief  a  place  in  which  he  might  sleep 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  139 

that  night.  But  Koloani  said,  "  Nay !  we  will 
sleep  under  the  shelter  of  this  tree  to-night."  And 
he  went  away  again  to  the  House. 

And  Matauw  and  Spalodi  and  the  young  man, 
Jamba,  sat  before  the  Chief,  and  Koloani  spoke, 
and  said,  "  My  Brothers !  Ye  have  heard  the  word 
of  the  White  Man.  It  must  be  with  them  even 
as  we  have  heard,  that  they  are  sore  pressed  by 
their  enemy  and  have  great  fear  for  themselves. 

"  The  crippled  Wolf  has  come  to  the  sick  Lion 
for  help!  Let  us  now  speak  together  on  our  af- 
fairs and  see  that  which  is  best  to  be  done." 

And  they  spoke  together  earnestly  and  consid- 
ered many  things,  and  when  the  moon  had  set, 
Koloani,  the  Chief,  took  his  blanket  and  said,  "  In 
the  morning  he  will  speak  again  and  say  what  we 
will  do,  for  sleep  is  a  good  bath  for  the  eyes." 
Then  the  others  took  their  blankets  and  laid  down 
where  they  were  to  sleep. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

"  THE  FIG-TREE  DOES  NOT  GET  RIPE  BY  SEEING 
A  BABOON" 

IN  the  morning  at  the  break  of  day  one  of  the 
men  made  a  fire,  and  before  the  rising  of  the 
sun  Koloani,  the  Chief,  and  Spalodi  and  Matauw 
with  him,  were  sat  round  the  fire,  upon  the  ground. 

And  Koloani  said,  "  Now  speak,  my  brothers, 
that  which  ye  think  well,  and  let  no  one  be 
afraid." 

Then  Spalodi  said,  "  My  voice,  O  Chief !  is 
against  remaining  at  this  place.  While  we  are 
here  Kundu  builds  a  wall  against  us;  and  the 
people  hearing  not  of  thee  will  say  that  Koloani 
fears  to  come  again.  And  they  will  go  over  to 
Kundu. 

"  Let  us  rather  return  and  work  secretly 
amongst  the  people,  so  that  if  only  a  few  White 
Men  come  at  any  time  we  shall  be  able  to  help 
them." 

Then  the  Chief  turned  to  Matauw,  and  Ma- 
140 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  141 

tauw  said,  "  There  is  Wisdom  in  the  words  of 
Spalodi,  Chief !  Let  us  speak  yet  once  again  with 
Seatlata  for  it  may  be  that  things  have  come 
to  him  in  the  night.  And  if  we  must  return 
alone  let  us  ask  the  White  Men  to  give  us  guns 
and  bullets  to  shoot  with,  for  there  are  some 
of  thy  people,  O  Chief!  who  know  the  way  of 
a  gun;  and  they  will  be  of  service  to  us.  We 
should  be  as  women  to  remain  here." 

And  the  Chief  was  pleased  at  these  short  say- 
ings, and  he  said,  "  Ye  speak  well,  my  friends. 
Now  hear  what  was  in  my  mind  to  do. 

"  I,  also,  have  seen  that  it  would  be  foolish  to 
remain  here.  But  we  cannot  return  to  Tlapakun ; 
neither  can  we  go  to  any  other  village  in  those 
parts,  for  Kundu  would  surely  know  that  we  had 
been  there  and  he  would  send  and  destroy  that 
village. 

"  Now,  as  ye  know,  there  is  the  stain  of  blood 
between  Kamalubi  and  Kundu,  and  they  look  not 
kindly  upon  each  other;  between  me  and  Kama- 
lubi has  there  not  been  kindness,  yet  neither  is 
there  enmity.  And  I  have  heard  well  of  that 
Chief. 


142  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

"  I  will  go  to  Kamalubi  and  claim  the  refuge 
which  one  Chief  must  give  to  another  who  seeks 
it.  Kamalubi  is  of  royal  blood  and  will  not  deny 
me  but  will  provide  a  place  for  me  at  his  House. 
Then  will  this  become  quickly  known  against  our 
people  and  their  hearts  will  not  go  from  me. 

"  Should  Kundu,  in  his  pride,  come  against 
Kamalubi  because  of  me,  he  will  surely  be  de- 
feated; for  the  people  of  Moali  and  its  villages 
will  not  take  arms  against  me,  their  Chief. 

"Then  when  the  White  Men  come  again  to 
consider  the  affairs  of  our  people  they  will  find 
us  strong  and  worthy  of  their  thought.  How 
think  you,  my  friends:  does  this  look  well  in 
your  eyes  ?  " 

And  the  Chief  and  the  others  spoke  long  over 
this  thing,  and  Jamba  also  came  and  sat  with 
them;  and,  when  they  had  considered  all  things, 
it  was  decided  that  they  should  come  to  the  Chief, 
Kamalubi,  and  claim  refuge  from  him. 

Now,  again,  Seatlata  sent  a  sheep  to  Koloani 
for  meat,  and  the  men  prepared  it  and  food  was 
made  ready.  Then,  when  they  had  finished  eat- 
ing, the  Chief  spoke  to  Matauw,  and  said,  "  Go, 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  143 

now,  Matauw,  and  find  Seatlata,  and  say  that  I 
would  speak  with  him  again." 

Matauw  went  to  the  House ;  and  when  he  came 
again  he  said,  "  The  White  Man  will  speak  to 
the  Chief  now,  in  the  House." 

And  when  Koloani  and  those  with  him  came 
again  to  the  place  where  sat  the  White  Men,  and 
had  found  their  places,  He  of  the  Heavy  Hand 
said,  "Speak,  Chief!" 

And  Koloani  said,  "  I  would  ask  thee,  Seatlata, 
if  thy  word  to  me  is  as  it  was ;  for  the  night  some- 
times brings  new  thoughts  ?  " 

And  Seatlata  said,  "  The  night  has  brought  no 
other  counsel.  My  word  is  as  it  was.  When  a 
whole  House  is  in  danger,  the  affairs  of  one  son 
must  wait.  Yet,  Chief,  be  assured  that  Justice 
will  be  done,  and  Kundu  shall  eat  dirt  before 
you." 

Then  said  Koloani,  "  I  have  heard,  O  Seatlata ! 
and  thank  thee  for  thy  promise.  But  the  head 
of  the  House  will,  if  he  can,  throw  a  stick  to  the 
child  that  it  may  fight  for  itself. 

"  Thou  hast  said  that  it  is  with  me  to  stay  here 


144  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

or  to  go  where  I  will.  To  stay  here  I  would  be 
but  a  stone  in  thy  path,  and  as  a  woman  in  the 
eyes  of  my  people. 

"  Rather  will  I  go  to  Kamalubi,  of  Rasala- 
moom,  whose  border  is  against  the  land  of  Moali, 
and  live  with  him  until  the  time  when  thou  art 
ready  to  come  against  Kundu.  I  will  send  thy 
word  amongst  my  people,  and  keep  watch  there, 
and  send  thee  word  continually  of  that  which  is 
done. 

"  But  now  Kundu  may  come  against  Kama- 
lubi also,  because  of  me,  and  that  of  all  there 
is  bad  blood  between  them.  Give  me,  now,  guns, 
My  Father !  and  bullets,  that  we  may  better  stand 
against  that  slayer-in-the-dark  when  he  comes 
against  us.  And  it  will  also  be  a  sign  to  the 
People  and  to  the  Chiefs  that  thy  face  is  with 
us,  and  against  the  Troubler." 

And  when  the  Chief  had  said  this,  the  White 
Men  spoke  together,  and  they  all  spoke  in  turn, 
and  when  they  had  all  said,  Seatlata  turned  again 
to  the  Chief,  and  said,  "  I  have  nought  to  say 
against  thy  plan,  Koloani;  it  seems  good  in  my 
eyes.  And  that  the  people  may  know  my  face  is 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  145 

against  Kundu  in  this  doing,  I  will  give  thee 
guns;  but  when  we  come  together  afterwards 
thou  must  return  the  guns  to  me  again." 

And  Koloani,  the  Chief,  gave  thanks  to  Seat- 
lata  and  said,  "  I  will  give  back  the  guns." 

Then  the  Chief,  and  those,  came  out  from  the 
House,  and  Seatlata  said,  "  Call  thy  men  that 
they  come  up  here."  And  Matauw  called  and 
all  the  men  came  up. 

Then  Seatlata  counted  and  gave  word,  and 
White  Men  went  into  the  House,  and  in  a  little 
while  they  came  again  carrying  guns  in  their  arms, 
and  they  went  and  came  again  bringing  car- 
tridges. And  they  brought  out  ten  guns  and 
four,  and  for  every  gun  they  brought  ten  packets 
of  cartridges. 

And  when  this  was  done,  He  of  the  Heavy 
Hand  spoke  to  Koloani,  and  said,  "  The  guns 
are  old,  Chief!  but  yet  they  are  good.  When 
you  strike  not  the  mark  curse  not  the  gun,  but 
try  the  other  eye." 

Then  Koloani  smiled  and  said,  "  Nay,  Seat- 
lata! A  bad  swimmer  should,  not  blame  the 
water.  I  thank  thee  for  the  guns;  and  now  will 


146  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

we  not  tarry  longer  here  but  will  return  again, 
at  once,  to  our  country." 

But  Seatlata  gave  orders,  and  again  a  sheep 
was  brought,  to  be  food  for  the  road,  and  pre- 
pared, and  the  flesh  was  cooked  and  divided 
amongst  the  men.  And  when  all  was  ready,  and 
they  had  taken  up  their  blankets  and  their  spears 
and  their  sticks,  each  man  took  a  gun  and  the 
cartridges  with  it. 

Then  Seatlata  came  again  and  shook  the  hand 
of  Koloani,  the  Chief.  And  Matauw  and  those 
with  him  called  out,  and  said,  "  Remain  in  peace, 
Seatlata,  our  Father!" 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

"THE  HASTY  ONE  EATS  A  HARE;  THE  STEADY 
ONE  EATS  A   CALF" 

THE  Chief  led  the  way,  and  they  travelled  with 
speed,  for  they  had  rested  well  at  the  place  of 
the  White  Man.  Nothing  hindered  them  by  the 
way,  so  that  before  it  was  dark  they  had  come 
again  to  the  river  Matsusi.  But  they  crossed  not 
over,  neither  made  a  fire  at  that  place. 

In  the  morning,  before  it  was  light,  Jamba, 
Son  of  the  Warrior,  arose  and  crossed  the  river 
and  went  to  the  top  of  a  place  from  which  one 
might  see  up  the  valley  Manganita.  And  in  a  lit- 
tle while,  as  he  looked,  Jamba  saw  a  light  shining 
against  some  rocks,  and  he  looked  carefully,  for 
the  day  was  breaking,  and  then  the  young  man 
saw  another  light  at  a  distance  from  the  first.  So 
Jamba  knew  that  men  had  been  sent  by  Kundu 
to  lay  wait  in  the  valley  for  Koloani.  And  when 
the  young  man  had  marked  the  places  of  the  fires 
in  his  eye  he  came  down  and  returned  quickly  to 
the  Chief. 

147 


148  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

Now  when  Jamba  had  told  to  Koloani  and  the 
others  that  which  he  had  seen,  they  praised  the 
young  man.  And  Koloani  said,  "  My  son,  thou 
art  as  a  shield  between  my  enemies  and  me." 

And  Jamba  said,  "  I  have  marked  the  places 
where  these  men  are.  Can  we  not  come  upon 
them  suddenly  and  destroy  them — for  we  are 
strong,  and  have  guns  with  which  to  shoot?" 
But  Jamba  shook  his  spears  and  looked  not  at 
his  gun,  which  lay  upon  the  ground. 

And  Koloani  smiled  and  said,  "  Nay,  Jamba ! 
It  would  be  a  small  thing  and  of  little  use.  While 
they  watch  here  we  shall  not  be  hindered  on  the 
way  to  Rasalamoom.  Have  no  fear,  Son  of 
Bama,  thy  spear  shall  not  rust." 

Then,  when  each  had  taken  up  his  things,  Ma- 
tauw  spoke,  and  two  of  the  men  stepped  quickly 
out  and  moved  in  front  at  a  little  distance.  And 
they  went  up  the  river  through  the  bushes  which 
grew  on  the  banks,  for  they  would  not  cross  the 
river  at  this  place.  And  when  they  had  come 
a  long  way  up  the  river  and  had  found  the  place 
where  they  would  cross,  it  was  already  in  the 
heat  of  the  day.  But  they  found  a  cool  place 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  149 

amongst  the  bushes;  and  when  they  had  set  out 
two  of  the  men  to  keep  watch,  they  lay  down 
in  this  place  and  waited  for  the  evening,  for  now 
they  were  to  travel  in  darkness. 

When  the  dusk  of  the  evening  had  come  on 
Matauw  spoke  again,  and  one  of  the  men  took 
up  his  things  and  crossed  the  river  and  went  on 
the  way;  and  before  he  was  lost  to  sight  another 
followed  after  him.  And  when  he  also  had 
crossed  the  river  came  the  Chief  and  all  the  others 
on  the  road.  This  was  done  that  warning  might 
be  given  of  an  enemy  on  the  road,  but  they  ex- 
pected not  to  be  hindered  in  this  part.  And  they 
travelled  again  very  quickly,  so  that  should  those 
who  had  laid  wait  for  them  in  the  valley  cross 
the  Matsusi  and  find  the  track  where  they  had 
come,  and  follow  after,  they  should  not  catch 
up  with  them. 

When  the  moon  had  gone  down  and  it  be- 
came dark  they  yet  continued  on  the  way,  for 
they  were  in  a  path  which  was  known  to  some 
of  the  men.  So  they  held  on  until  about  the 
turn  of  the  night,  when  they  came  to  the  foot  of 
a  great  cliff;  and  the  two  men  who  had  moved 


150  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

before  them  were  waiting  here.  And  Matauw 
spoke  with  the  men,  and  when  it  was  known  that 
the  path  led  out  of  the  cliff,  but  that  it  was  very 
steep  and  long,  they  turned  to  the  Chief.  But 
Koloani  said,  "  Let  us  not  rest  until  we  are  out 
of  the  hill." 

Then  each  man  took  only  one  stick  and  one 
spear  in  his  hand,  and  the  other  things  they  fas- 
tened in  their  blankets  over  their  shoulders;  and 
when  they  were  ready,  one  who  knew  the  path 
led  the  way.  But  now  they  travelled  slowly,  for 
the  night  was  dark  and  the  path  was  dangerous, 
so  that  in  the  slipping  of  a  foot  was  death.  And 
they  followed  closely  one  behind  the  other,  and 
were  careful  not  to  loosen  any  stones;  but  they 
paused  not  once  until  they  came  out  at  the  top 
of  the  cliff. 

This  place  was  on  the  border  of  the  land  which 
belonged  to  the  Chief  Kamalubi ;  and  when  Kolo- 
ani and  those  with  him  were  come  on  to  the  hill 
they  felt  a  relief  in  their  minds,  because  they 
need  no  longer  fear  those  whom  Kundu  had  sent 
to  lie  in  wait  for  them. 

Then  Koloani  said,  "  Find  now  a  place  and 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  151 

we  will  sleep  here;  for  when  it  is  light  I  would 
look  over  the  land  from  this  hill,  that  it  may  be 
known  to  me."  And  when  he  who  knew  the  path 
had  shown  them  a  place  to  sleep  they  opened  their 
blankets  and  wrapped  them  around,  for  the  night 
was  cold  upon  the  height. 

But  now,  before  they  slept,  Koloani  spoke  to 
Spalodi,  and  said,  "  Son  of  Sepeke,  Mian  of 
Honey  Tongue!  It  is  for  thee  to  go  before  us 
in  the  morning  to  come  to  Kamalubi  and  to  tell 
him  that  I,  Koloani,  am  on  way  to  Rasalamoom 
to  speak  with  him  on  that  which  is  of  concern 
to  Chiefs.  Give  him  greeting,  and  say  that  at  the 
setting  of  the  sun  I  will  stand  before  his  Gate. 
Take  with  thee  three  men,  and  wait  not  for  our 
awakening.  We  will  follow  after  thee  in  good 
time."  And  Spalodi  said,  "  I  have  heard,  Chief !  " 
Then  they  slept  at  that  place. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

"THE  TIGER-CAT  IS  BECOMING  ON  HIS 
NATURAL  GROUND" 

Now  in  the  morning,  at  the  rising  of  the  sun, 
Koloani,  the  Chief,  and  Matauw  stood  upon  the 
height  and  gazed  upon  the  land  which  lay  before 
them  and  around.  And  they  moved  to  the  edge 
of  the  cliff  and  looked  over  the  way  which  they 
had  come.  Their  eyes  went  up  against  the  river 
Matsusi  for  a  great  distance,  and  down  the  river ; 
and  over  beyond  the  river  in  the  face  of  the  sun, 
they  saw  again  the  hill  over  which  they  had  gone 
to  the  place  of  the  White  Man. 

And  Koloani,  the  Chief,  looked  around,  and 
said,  "  The  land  is  great,  and  nowhere  rises  the 
smoke  of  a  fire ;  yet  are  my  Children  slain.  Water 
runs  from  the  hills,  and  the  wild  deer  drinks 
of  it;  yet  are  my  Brothers  and  Friends  killed 
in  the  night.  The  sun  shines  upon  the  valleys 
and  the  plains  where  men  are  few;  yet  must  I 
walk  in  the  darkness  because  of  those  who  lie 
in  wait  for  me.  And  my  fault  is  in  this:  that 
153 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  153 

my   fathers   were   Chiefs   and   men   of   bloody 
hands." 

Now  Matauw  was  looking  out  along  the  path 
by  which  they  had  come  up  from  the  river,  and 
he  saw  men  running  on  the  path.  And  when 
the  men  were  come  nearer  to  the  cliff  he  spoke 
to  the  Chief,  and  they  looked  and  knew  that  these 
were  men  of  Kundu  who  had  tracked  them  along 
this  way. 

"They  returned  with  a  feather  only." 

Then  while  they  stood  at  the  edge  of  the  cliff 
the  men  below  stopped  running  and  looked  up, 
for  one  had  seen  the  Chief  and  Matauw  stand- 
ing there,  and  had  spoken.  So  Matauw  called 
to  the  men  who  were  with  him,  and  they  all  came 
to  the  edge  of  the  kranz  and  looked  down  upon 
the  men  of  Kundu,  their  enemy;  and  the  men 
below  shook  their  spears  and  shouted,  but  only 
the  sound  could  be  heard  because  of  the  distance. 
The  men  who  were  with  the  Chief  shook  their 
spears  also,  and  shouted  words  of  defiance  and 
scorn. 

And  Matauw  said,  "  They  will  not  come  further 
because  of  the  steep  path  in  the  hill,  which  one 


154  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

i 

man  could  hold  against  many.     They  will  now 

return  to  Kundu,  O  Chief!  and  he  will  know 
that  thou  art  with  Kamalubi."  And  the  Chief 
said,  "  It  is  better  so."  And  when  they  had 
watched  the  men  below  for  a  while,  they  re- 
turned to  where  they  had  slept  and  took  up  their 
things  and  continued  on  the  way  to  Rasalamoom. 

"  A  stick  has  no  kraal." 

But  the  Chief,  Koloani,  was  of  low  spirit,  and 
he  turned  his  face  to  the  young  man,  Jamba, 
and  said,  "  My  son !  A  snake,  kill,  without  mercy, 
and  a  wolf.  But  gnash  not  thy  teeth  against  the 
deer  that  it  is  fleeter  than  thou,  nor  the  eagle 
that  it  asks  thee  not  where  it  shall  build  its  nest." 
But  Jamba  answered  not  the  Chief,  for  he  knew 
not  what  to  say. 

All  that  day  they  travelled  easily  because  the 
distance  was  not  great  to  the  village  of  the  Chief 
Kamalubi ;  and  because  they  had  now  no  fear  of 
the  men  of  Kundu  behind  them.  And  they  passed 
through  many  corn-lands,  seeing  great  herds  of 
cattle  and  of  goats  by  the  way;  and  at  the  set- 
ting of  the  sun  they  stood  outside  the  Great  Gate 
of  the  village,  Rasalamoom. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  155 

Now  before  Koloani  could  come  to  the  gate 
to  touch  it,  Kamalubi,  the  Chief,  came  forth,  and 
with  him  was  Mabatsi,  his  general,  and  Chukabi, 
his  brother,  and  Spalodi  also  was  with  them. 

The  Chief  Kamalubi  was  the  biggest  man  in 
all  those  parts,  and  his  brothers  also  were  taller 
than  other  men,  for  so  was  that  family.  And 
Kamalubi  was  heavy  and  full  of  meat,  like  a  fat 
bull. 

Now  when  the  Chief  Kamalubi  came  forth  to 
greet  Koloani  he  laughed  aloud,  and  his  great 
belly  shook  with  it.  But  the  laugh  was  a  good 
laugh,  and  not  a  taunt,  for  it  was  the  way  of  this 
Chief,  who  was  a  great  laugher. 

And  Koloani  was  at  ease  in  that  the  Chief  had 
come  to  meet  him,  and  his  brother  and  his  general 
with  him.  And  when  Kamalubi  and  Koloani 
had  struck  their  hands  together  and  called  each 
other  "  Chief,"  and  spoken  the  names  of  their 
Fathers'  Fathers,  they  went  in.  And  Kamalubi 
led  the  way  to  his  own  house. 

Now  when  they  were  seated  in  the  sabolo  of 
the  Chief  Kamalubi,  before  his  house,  and  the 
others  were  sat  around,  Koloani  would  have 


156  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

spoken,  but  Kamalubi  raised  his  hand,  and 
laughed,  and  called  out;  and  the  wives  of  the 
Chief  brought  beer  in  clay  pots  and  put  it  before 
them.  And  meat  was  brought  in  wooden  bowls, 
and  corn-meal.  And  Kamalubi  said,  "  There  will 
be  much  time  for  talking,  my  brother!  eat  and 
drink  now,  for  thou  hast  come  a  long  journey." 

Now  the  heart  of  Koloani,  the  Chief,  was  light 
at  this  doing  of  Kamalubi,  but  when  they  had 
finished  eating  he  would  not  wait  longer,  but  said, 
"  Kamalubi,  Son  of  Rampuru,  Son  of  Waromani, 
Chief !  Hear  me  now." 

But  again  the  Chief  Kamalubi  raised  his  hand 
and  laughed  aloud,  and  said,  "  My  Brother !  My 
Brother !  '  From  a  bitter  trunk  bitter  fruit  will 
come/  We  have  heard  of  the  doings  of  that 
Thief  in  the  Dark;  and  that  thy  sons  are  slain; 
and  that  thou  hast  been  to  speak  with  the  White 
Man.  I  hnve  awaited  thee  here,  and  a  place  will 
be  quickly  prepared  for  thee  and  for  thy  people ; 
and  there  are  corn-lands  for  all.  And  for  as  many 
of  thy  people  as  shall  come  to  thee  place  will  be 
found,  and  they  shall  look  to  thee  only,  as  Chief. 
I,  Kamalubi,  have  said  it." 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  157 

"A  Great  One  does  not  follow  the  road  of  the 
lie." 

And  the  Chief  of  Rasalamoom  laughed  again, 
and  said,  "  For  do  we  not  know  this  Kundu !  that 
fear  of  the  White  Man  only  has  kept  his  hand 
down?  Already  has  he  sent  me  greeting  and 
spoken  words  of  friendship,  saying,  '  Let  us  live 
at  peace,  and  let  our  people  come  and  go  and 
make  friends  together.'  I  am  restless !  Soon 
would  he  send  me  a  maiden  for  wife,  and  pres- 
ents ;  and  then  could  I  no  more  sleep  in  my  house. 
As  an  enemy  I  laugh  at  him,  but  as  a  friend 
would  there  be  no  peace  for  me.  Now  that  thou 
art  here,  my  brother,  he  must  declare  himself; 
and  thy  people  shall  strengthen  my  hand  to  deal 
with  him.  Speak  not  of  refuge,  for  I  am  glad 
thou  art  come  to  me." 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

"HE  WHO  ALREADY  KNOWS  A  MATTER  WILL 
CONFUSE  THE  LIAR" 

Now  when  the  people  of  Moali  heard  that  their 
Chief,  Koloani,  was  at  the  village  Rasalamoom, 
and  that  the  Chief,  Kamalubi,  had  given  him  a 
place  for  those  who  would  come  to  him,  and 
corn-lands  and  water,  and  that  the  people  would 
be  welcome  there,  many  of  them  stole  away  by 
night  and  came  to  their  Chief.  The  wives  of 
Koloani  came  first  to  their  lord  with  what  they 
could  bring  with  them.  So  that  in  a  few  days 
Koloani  had  his  own  place  again,  and  there  were 
many  to  serve  him. 

But  when  word  was  brought  to  the  Chief,  Kun- 
du,  that  Koloani  had  been  well  received  by  Kama- 
lubi of  Rasalamoom  he  was  angry.  And  Kundu 
called  his  councillors  together  and  they  spoke  over 
this  thing.  And  Kundu,  the  Chief,  spoke  first, 
and  said,  "  Kamalubi  has  struck  me  in  the  face, 
openly,  and  declared  war  against  me ;  now,  there- 
fore, consider  this  thing  that  we  prepare  our- 
selves." 

158 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  159 

And  when  they  had  all  made  known  their 
thoughts  at  the  council,  Mokani,  the  First  Coun- 
cillor, spoke,  and  said,  "  We  cannot  come  by  sur- 
prise upon  Kamalubi,  for  even  now  he  will  be 
watching  and  making  ready  against  us;  we  must 
collect  our  'strength  and  give  him  battle.  But 
he  will  not  be  able  to  stand  against  us,  for  our 
warriors  will  be  as  two  to  one  against  him. 

"  Now,  Chief,  let  us  send  to  Kamalubi  and 
demand  that  he  give  Koloani  and  his  people  over, 
and  when  he  refuses  let  our  messenger  make 
known  to  him  that  the  people  will  be  gathered  to- 
gether against  him,  from  the  Matsusi  to  the 
H'loati,  and  that  he  and  his  House  will  be  de- 
stroyed and  his  People  utterly  crushed  if  he  stand 
up  against  us  in  this  thing.  It  may  be  that  the 
counsel  of  fear  will  prevail  with  him  at  the  last." 

And  Bokalobi,  the  General,  said,  "  Let  our  mes- 
sengers go  to  Rasalamoom  as  Mokani  has  said, 
but  let  us  also  begin  at  once  to  make  ready;  for 
Kamalubi  will  fight,  and  Nabatsi,  his  general,  will 
not  be  deceived.  There  is  much  to  be  done  and 
the  new  moon  will  be  here  before  we  are  ready. 
But  Kamalubi  and  his  House  will  be  eaten  up, 


160  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

and  thy  fame  will  spread  through  the  land,  O 
Chief!" 

So  it  was  that  when  Koloani  had  been  three 
days  at  Rasalamoom  came  messengers  from  Kun- 
du  to  the  Chief  Kamalubi. 

And  when  the  messengers,  having  heard  that 
Kamalubi  would  not  give  up  Koloani,  had  de- 
clared that  their  Chief,  Kundu,  would  come  with 
a  mighty  force  and  utterly  destroy  the  village 
Rasalamoom  with  all  its  people,  Kamalubi,  the 
Chief,  gave  a  great  laugh,  and  the  Chief  spoke, 
and  said :  "  Return  now,  ye  men,  to  your  Chief, 
and  give  him  the  word  of  a  Man,  thus : 

"  That  which  is  between  us  is  not  of  to-day, 
for  was  it  not  even  a  matter  of  rage  to  our 
fathers  that  the  same  sun  shone  upon  both?  We 
have  too  long  held  our  hands  and  now  must  fight. 
Come  in  the  darkness  or  in  the  midst;  in  the 
daytime  or  with  the  moon.  Come  with  cunning 
or  as  Man.  I  await  you,  Kundu.  Tarry  not, 
that  your  blood  become  not  cold  with  age.  Ku- 
kunu  is  your  name,  for  you  work  in  the  dark! 
and  I  am  prepared  for  you.  But,  Chief,  if  you 
are  your  Father's  son,  and  a  good  fight  is  a  pleas- 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  161 

ure  in  your  eyes,  and  ye  be  not  afraid  to  meet 
me  openly,  then  let  your  coming  be  in  day-time, 
that  the  thing  be  not  hidden;  and  that  the  Land 
may  know  we  have  met  as  men." 

And  Kamalubi,  the  Chief,  laughed  again,  and 
said,  "Ye  have  heard  my  words.  Bring  them 
quickly  to  your  Chief,  and  say  Kamalubi  waits 
to  welcome  him  to  Rasalamoom." 

Now  the  Chief  had  spoken  cunningly  in  this 
thing,  for  he  feared  greatly  that  Kundu  would 
come  against  him  in  the  darkness  and  overcome 
him  by  surprise.  For  Kamalubi  had  many  guns, 
and  those  which  had  been  given  by  the  White 
Man  to  Koloani  were  on  his  side,  and  in  the  night 
these  would  be  of  little  use.  And  so  Kamalubi  had 
spoken  with  taunts  that,  perhaps,  he  might  raise 
pride  in  the  Chief,  Kundu. 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

"WITH  THE  MOUTH  ONE  CAN  CROSS  THE 
FULLEST  RIVER" 

Now  began  Kundu,  Chief  of  Nilisetsi,  and  Kama- 
lubi,  Chief  of  Rasalamoom,  to  make  ready  against 
each  other.  Kamalubi  placed  men  along  his  bor- 
der which  was  against  Moali  and  against  Nili- 
setsi, that  men  of  Kundu  should  not  come  into 
his  land  to  spy.  He  placed  men  on  the  heights, 
also,  which  overlooked  the  land  of  Kundu,  for  a 
watch.  And  he  had  cunning  places  built  for  his 
men  in  the  rocky  hills  which  were  against  his 
village.  And  great  stones  were  placed  on  ledges, 
whence  they  might  easily  be  rolled  down  upon  an 
enemy. 

And  Kamalubi  gave  orders,  and  all  the  cattle 
and  goats  and  asses  which  belonged  to  his  people 
were  gathered  together  and  sent  back  in  his  coun- 
try to  a  distance.  A  few  cows  and  goats  only 
were  kept  at  Rasalamoom,  and  for  these  a  strong 
place  was  built  in  the  hill  behind  the  village,  where 
water  was.  And  the  people  of  Natsani,  and  Ti- 
162 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  163 

sani,  and  Paloto,  and  all  the  villages  of  that  part, 
made  ready,  for  their  Head  Chief  was  Kama- 
lubi. 

Koloani,  the  Chief,  also,  and  Matauw  and  Jam- 
ba went  much  amongst  the  People,  to  encourage 
them.  But  Spalodi,  Son  of  Sepeke,  had  returned 
to  Tlapakun,  the  village  of  Chuaani,  the  Hairy 
One,  and  from  that  place  they  worked  secretly 
amongst  the  people  of  Moali. 

And  Matauw  spoke  to  Mabatsi,  the  general, 
and  orders  were  given  that  all  those  who  had 
guns  should  come  and  place  themselves  under  Ma- 
tauw, who  would  be  over  them  to  direct  them. 
Then  Matauw  instructed  these  men  and  went  with 
them  round  about  on  the  hills  at  Rasalamoom,  and 
appointed  places  for  them. 

"  You  begin  with  the  meal  before  the  water  is 

boiled." 

But  Kundu,  the  Chief,  and  his  people  in  all 
the  villages  of  Nilisetsi,  already  sang  songs  of 
victory,  for  they  believed  that  the  men  of  Rasala- 
moom would  flee  at  the  sight  of  their  numbers 
and  their  might ;  for  the  Warriors  and  the  Young 
Men  from  all  the  villages,  from  Matopani,  from 


164!  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

N'quobi  and  other  parts,  and  from  the  Chief, 
Sandobo,  son  of  Daasha,  whose  spears  numbered 
a  thousand,  were  coming  together  at  Nilisetsi. 
And  when  all  these  danced  in  the  evening  in  the 
Great  Place  before  the  sabolo  of  the  Chief,  and 
shook  their  spears  and  sang  the  Songs  of  War, 
it  seemed  to  them  that  they  were  of  very  great 
might,  and  that  none  could  stand  before  them. 

And  so  the  Young  Men  boasted  greatly  and 
laughed,  and  spoke  contemptuously  of  Kamalubi 
and  his  people.  And  already  they  were  dividing 
the  spoils  amongst  them,  saying  the  young  women 
and  the  maidens  of  Rasalamoom  should  be  dealt 
with  in  this  way,  and  the  Cattle  and  the  goats 
should  be  divided  in  that  way,  and  the  goods 
also;  and  there  was  great  glee  amongst  the  peo- 
ple. And  oxen  and  goats  were  slain  for  food, 
and  at  every  hut  were  fires  made  and  corn-meal 
prepared,  and  there  was  much  beer  drunk. 

Now  Mokani,  the  First  Councillor,  liked  not  all 
this  doing,  but  when  he  would  speak  against  it, 
saying,  "  Let  the  feasting  and  the  drinking  be 
after  the  victory,"  the  Chief  laughed  and  said, 
"  As  Moali,  even  so  will  Rasalamoom  fall  into  my 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  165 

hands."  But  Kundu  drank  much,  so  that  he  was 
drunk  every  day.  And  when  Mokani  spoke  with 
Bokalobi,  the  General,  on  this  thing,  Bokalobi 
said,  "  Fear  not,  my  brother !  You  and  I  will 
feast  together  in  the  house  of  Kamalubi,  and  his 
women  shall  wait  upon  us."  For  there  was  beer 
also  at  the  house  of  Bokalobi,  and  he  saw  not 
clearly  at  this  time. 

Yet  Mokani,  the  Councillor,  was  not  greatly 
troubled,  for  he  considered  how  few  were  the 
men  of  Rasalamoom  as  against  the  men  of  Nili- 
setsi,  and  that  Kundu  might  choose  his  own  time 
for  going  up  against  Kamalubi. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

"  THE  CALF  OF  THE  DOCTOR  DIES  FULL  OF 
THE  SMELL  OF  MEDICINE" 

"  Don't  curse  the  crocodile's  mother  before  you 
cross  the  river." 

Now  in  the  villages  of  Moali,  also,  Kundu,  the 
Chief,  had  put  men  to  be  spies;  and  had  sent 
word  to  every  Head  Man  how  many  spears  he 
should  bring  to  the  fighting  against  Kamalubi. 
And  the  Head  Men  spoke  well  with  the  messen- 
gers of  Kundu,  and  promised  to  bring  the  full 
number  of  spears  and  more ;  and  they  spoke  ever 
lightly  of  Koloani  and  of  Kamalubi.  Neverthe- 
less, Kundu  trusted  not  the  men  of  Moali ;  but 
the  people  knew  the  spies  and  were  friendly  with 
them,  but  they  guarded  their  tongues  before  them. 
Now  when  all  was  prepared  it  was  yet  before 
the  new  moon,  and  the  night  was  very  dark.  And 
Mokani,  the  First  Councillor,  spoke  to  Kundu, 
the  Chief,  and  to  Bokalobi,  the  General,  saying, 
"  Surely  now  is  the  time  to  go  up  against  our 
enemy.  While  the  nights  are  yet  dark  let  us  fall 
upon  him  and  surprise  him." 
166 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  167 

But  the  Chief  spoke,  and  said,  "  Am  I  not 
Kundu,  Son  of  Manduku,  Son  of  Waromani? 
And  shall  I  be  taunted  with  my  name  by  that 
jackal?  And  shall  the  People  say,  'The  dark- 
ness favoured  him,  but  in  the  daylight  he  feared 
to  fight  ? '  Nay,  by  my  Fathers !  We  will  go 
up  against  Kamalubi,  and  I  will  send  word  to 
him  when  we  are  ready;  and  all  the  world  shall 
know  that  my  spear  has  searched  him  out  openly. 
And  my  name  shall  be  great  in  the  Land." 

Mokani  liked  not  this  saying  of  the  Chief,  and 
he  said,  "  It  is  foolish  to  wake  a  snake  to  kill 
it."  But  Bokalobi,  the  General,  was  with  Kundu 
in  this  thing,  and  he  said,  "  We  know  that  Kama- 
lubi has  prepared  for  us  by  day  or  by  night,  but 
by  night  will  they  be  doubly  watchful  and  strong. 
They  fight  on  their  own  ground,  and  darkness 
will  be  a  friend  to  them;  for  the  number  of  our 
spears  would  not  be  seen,  to  frighten  them.  In 
the  daytime  will  they  see  that  our  numbers  are 
as  two  to  one,  and  the  sound  of  our  shouting  will 
strike  terror  to  their  hearts." 

And  Kundu,  the  Chief,  said,  "  To-morrow  will 
we  set  forth.  Let  the  Word  go  out,  Bokalobi,  to 


168  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

thy  Warriors  and  Young  Men.  Let  us  sleep 
at  our  border,  and  by  noon  of  the  next  day  must 
Kamalubi  be  shown  that  he  has  aroused  a  lion 
whose  mouth  is  a  great  cavern  which  will  not 
close  while  one  of  his  House  lives.  Our  spears 
have  been  anointed,  and  the  Doctors  and  Wise 
Men  have  prepared  our  Warriors.  They  will 
come  upon  Rasalamoom  like  a  whirlwind,  and  its 
people  will  be  swept  away  as  the  dust  in  its  path." 

Bokalobi,  the  General,  was  glad  at  this  word, 
and  he  went  out  quickly  to  give  orders. 

Then,  in  a  little  while,  there  was  much  blow- 
ing upon  horns  and  beating  upon  drums  and  run- 
ning about  the  village.  And  messengers  were 
sent  off,  swift  of  foot,  to  Moali  and  its  villages 
to  call  the  Warriors  and  the  Young  Men  that 
they  be  at  the  Border  when  Kundu,  the  Chief, 
should  come  there.  And  meat  was  prepared  and 
meal  for  the  morrow.  In  every  house  was  the 
order  given  that  so  much  should  be  made  ready. 

In  all  the  villages  about  there  was  great  stir  and 
excitement;  and  the  women  had  much  to  do,  and 
sang  as  they  worked.  And  the  young  boys  blew 
upon  whistles  made  from  bones.  There  was 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  169 

laughing  and  merriment — for  were  they  not  go- 
ing to  eat  up  Kamalubi  and  his  people! 

And  Bokalobi,  the  General,  called  all  the  Head 
Men  of  the  Warriors  together  and  told  them 
how  they  should  go,  and  the  order  of  it;  and 
each  man  went  and  made  ready  accordingly. 

"  The  mouth  of  a  man  is  bigger  than  a  sounding 
drum." 

Now  in  the  morning  they  began  to  go  forth 
in  ranks  from  the  villages  towards  the  border; 
but  they  made  no  haste,  for  the  distance  was  not 
great.  They  travelled  in  parties  by  many  dif- 
ferent ways.  And  they  danced  by  the  way  and 
chanted  their  songs.  And  the  Young  Men 
boasted,  and  shook  their  spears;  and  made  light 
of  the  enemy,  which  was  yet  far  from  them. 

Now  Kundu,  the  Chief,  had  asses  brought,  and 
food  was  placed  upon  their  backs ;  and  upon  some 
of  the  asses  great  bags  were  placed,  made  from 
the  hide  of  oxen,  and  these  bags  were  filled  with 
beer;  for  Kundu  said  there  will  be  no  beer  left 
for  us  at  Rasalamoom.  And  Kundu  had  his 
karosses  brought,  and  his  headdress,  and  his  chair 
to  sit  in — for  it  was  in  the  mind  of  the  Chief 


170  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

to  hold  a  Court  for  those  who  should  be  brought 
before  him  when  he  had  entered  into  Rasalamoom. 
And  certain  of  his  wives  came  with  him  also. 

And  so,  in  state,  Kundu  came  to  the  place  ap- 
pointed where  they  should  sleep  that  night.  This 
place  was  known  as  Dabitsi,  which  is  the  name 
of  the  stream  there. 

And  now  all  the  Young  Men  and  Warriors 
were  gathered  together,  and  Bokalobi,  the  Gen- 
eral, came  and  took  Kundu,  the  Chief,  on  to  a 
rock.  And  when  the  Chief  had  looked  down 
upon  all  those  fighting  men  who  were  there,  and 
saw  their  spears,  and  heard  the  hum  of  their 
chanting,  his  heart  swelled  with  pride. 

And  Kundu  said,  "  Who  is  this  Kamalubi  that 
would  stand  against  me?  Will  he  not  bury  his 
face  in  the  earth  when  I  stand  before  his  vil- 
lage ? "  And  they  slept  at  that  place. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 

"THE  WALLS  HAVE  COME  INTO  COLLISION" 
Now  in  the  morning,  about  the  rising  of  the  sun, 
Kundu,  the  Chief,  sent  word  and  three  men  came 
before  him,  and  one  of  these  was  Madimbani, 
son  of  Mokani,  the  Councillor.  And  Kundu 
spoke  to  Madimbani,  and  said,  "  Son  of  Mokani, 
go  now  with  these  two  and  come  to  Kamalubi 
at  his  place  at  Rasalamoom,  and  when  thou  seest 
Kamalubi  speak  thus :  '  Greeting,  O  Kamalubi, 
from  Kundu,  Son  of  Manduku,  Chief  of  Nili- 
setsi  and  Moali  and  all  this  land!  And  know 
that  I  have  come  up  against  thee  with  a  great 
force  because  of  the  word  which  thou  hast  sent 
to  me.  And  that  I  am  now  at  Dabitsi,  on  the 
Border.  If  now  thou  wilt  come  forward  and 
bow  before  me  and  acknowledge  me  as  thy  Over- 
Chief,  and  will  bring  Koloani  with  thee,  then  will 
I,  Kundu,  not  come  further  against  thee.  But 
if  thou  wilt  not  do  this,  then  by  noon  of  this  day 
will  I  stand  before  thy  village  to  destroy  it,  and 
thee  also,  and  thy  House.'  When  thou  hast  heard 

171 


172  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

the  word  of  Kamalubi,  which  he  gives  thee,  come 
again  with  it  quickly." 

And  Madimbani  said,  "  I  have  heard,  Chief." 
Then  they  saluted  and  went  out  and  came  quickly 
on  the  way;  but  they  took  no  spears  with  them. 
Now  when  they  came  to  the  top  of  the  hill  by 
the  path  and  had  crossed  the  Border,  two  men 
stood  before  them.  And  one  asked  where  they 
would  go,  and  on  what  business. 

And  Madimbani  said,  "  I  am  son  of  Mokani, 
and  I  carry  the  Word  of  Kundu,  Chief  of  Nili- 
setsi  and  Moali,  to  Kamalubi  of  Rasalamoom,  and 
these  two  are  with  me."  Then  one  of  the  men 
said  they  should  follow  him,  and  he  went  on  be- 
fore them,  but  the  other  man  remained  at  his 
place  on  the  hill.  And  he  who  led  brought  Ma- 
dimbani round  by  the  open  way  to  the  village. 
Then  he  called  one  near  by  to  stand  with  them 
outside  while  he  went  in  to  where  the  Chief  was, 
and  brought  him  word.  And  the  Chief  said, 
"  Let  them  be  brought  in." 

Now  Koloani  and  Matauw  and  Jamba,  son  of 
Bama,  were  with  Kamalubi  at  his  sabolo,  for  they 
knew  that  Kundu  had  slept  at  Dabitsi,  on  the  Bor- 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  173 

der,  and  would  come  against  them  this  day;  and 
a  last  Council  was  being  held.  And  when  Madim- 
bani  and  the  two  were  brought  in  they  saluted 
Kamalubi,  but  they  looked  not  towards  the  Chief, 
Koloani. 

And  Kamalubi,  when  he  had  heard  the  word 
which  Madimbani  brought,  laughed  aloud.  And 
he  said,  "  Greeting  to  Kundu,  Chief  of  the  Sun, 
and  the  Moon,  and  the  Stars!  and  say  that  I 
will  have  a  shade  made  for  my  eyes,  that  they 
are  not  dazzled  when  I  look  upon  him  when  he 
comes  at  noon."  And  all  those  who  were  there 
laughed  when  they  heard  the  words  of  the  Chief. 
And  Kamalubi  said  to  him  who  had  brought 
them,  "  Take  them  back  as  they  came." 

Now  when  Kundu  heard  the  word  which  Ma- 
dimbani brought  from  Rasalamoom  he  was  en- 
raged. And  he  sent  for  Bokalobi,  the  General, 
and  gave  orders  that  they  go  forth  at  once  against 
Kamalubi. 

But  Bokalobi  had  heard  the  Word  which  the 
Chief  had  sent  to  Rasalamoom,  and  he  so  did 
that  his  army  should  not  be  at  that  place  before 
noon — for  Bokalobi  said,  "  Our  name  will  be 
greater  through  the  land." 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII 

"SCOFFING   AND   DESTRUCTION   CO   HAND-IN- 
HAND  " 

Now  the  village  of  Rasalamoom  was  not  far  from 
the  Border,  but  Mabatsi,  the  General  of  Kama- 
lubi,  would  not  place  his  men  on  these  hills  to 
fight  because  of  the  great  number  of  the  war- 
riors of  Kundu  who  would  surround  them  and 
cut  them  off  from  the  village.  The  hills  at  Rasa- 
lamoom were  small,  but  they  stood  sharply  up 
and  were  rugged.  And  the  village  was  at  the 
foot,  where  the  ground  sloped  away  to  the  stream, 
which  is  the  Maripe. 

And  now,  when  the  men  of  Kundu  began  to 
move  from  their  place  into  the  hills  on  the  bor- 
der, those  who  had  kept  watch  for  Kamalubi 
fell  back  before  them  and  came  in  to  their  own 
people. 

The  Warriors  of  Kundu  came  on  in  compa- 
nies. The  Young  Men  and  those  of  each  village 
came  together,  having  their  own  leaders  over 
them;  but  they  all  took  the  word  from  Bokalobi, 
174 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  175 

the  General.  But  all  those  companies  which  came 
from  Moali  and  its  villages  Bokalobi  kept  with 
the  men  of  Nilisetsi,  that  he  might  see  them. 

And  Kundu,  the  Chief,  came  with  the  men  of 
Nilisetsi  and  Moali,  a  great  body.  And  these 
came  down  the  Maripe,  along  the  stream,  to  at- 
tack the  village  from  the  front.  And  other  com- 
panies went  towards  the  hills  at  the  end  nearest, 
and  round  to  the  back  of  the  hills;  the  leader 
of  every  company  knowing  what  his  work  was 
to  do. 

And  while  they  were  yet  at  the  Border  the 
deep  humming  of  their  Chant  could  be  heard  at 
Rasalamoom.  They  danced,  also,  as  they  came 
on,  shaking  their  spears  and  sticks  and  striking 
their  shields.  Many  wore  long  black  feathers  on 
their  heads,  and  these  shook  and  waved  as  they 
danced.  But  nothing  else  wore  they  save  the 
piece  of  skin  which  was  around  the  loins. 

And  they  shouted  and  boasted  as  the  blood  ran 
hot  in  their  veins,  and  the  sound  of  their  Chant 
grew  ever  louder.  And  behind  them,  on  the  hills, 
came  many  women  from  Nilisetsi,  who  would  see 
the  fight  and  how  their  enemy  was  beaten. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 

"DUIKER,  COME  OUT  OF  THE  BEANS,  YOU  WILL 
BE  TRAPPED" 

AT  Rasalamoom  all  had  been  made  ready  for  the 
fight.  The  children  had  been  sent  to  other  vil- 
lages with  some  of  the  women — but  many  women 
remained  at  the  village,  for  they  might  be  of 
help  to  the  men.  At  every  place  of  vantage  on 
the  hills,  and  where  the  paths  led  in,  men  waited 
under  their  leaders. 

Now  the  Chiefs,  Kamalubi  and  Koloani,  with 
Mabatsi,  the  General,  stood  upon  the  hill  where 
they  could  see  the  army  of  Kundu  coming  from 
the  border.  And  when  he  saw  how  great  was 
the  might  which  was  brought  against  him,  Kama- 
lubi laughed,  and  said,  "  See  what  it  is  to  have 
a  big  name.  Surely  I  have  been  boasting."  And 
Mabatsi,  the  General,  answered  him,  "  This  day, 
Chief,  will  thy  renown  be  doubled,  and  all  the 
world  shall  hear  thy  name — for  all  these  who 
now  come  on  will  run  to  spread  the  fame  of  it." 

Now  when  the  Chiefs  saw  that  the  greatest 

176 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  177 

number  of  the  enemy  were  coming  down  the 
Maripe  towards  the  village  they  went  down  again 
and  stood  where  they  were  able  to  watch  these. 
But  Mabatsi  went  about  among  the  Leaders  and 
the  men,  cheering  them. 

The  fighting  commenced  in  the  hill.  The  shout- 
ing was  heard,  .and  the  shooting  of  guns.  Then 
Koloani  turned  to  Kamalubi,  and  the  Chiefs 
saluted  each  other,  and  Koloani  went  away  into 
the  hill  where  he  would  watch  and  direct  his 
men — and  Kamalubi  had  no  fear  for  that  part. 

Now  the  village  was  full  of  men  who  kept 
themselves  hidden;  but  a  number  were  out  be- 
tween the  village  and  the  stream,  shouting  de- 
fiance and  shaking  their  spears.  For  Mabatsi,  the 
General,  had  said,  "  They  will  think  our  num- 
bers are  few  and  will  come  on  with  little 
heed." 

And  it  was  so,  for  it  was  thought,  "  Kama- 
lubi's  men  are  in  the  hills,  and  only  this  few  de- 
fend the  village."  And  when  they  came  to  the 
stream  the  first  men  of  Nilisetsi  rushed  for- 
ward, every  man  wishing  to  be  first  into  the 
village. 


178  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

"Don't  laugh  when  a  man  falls,  there  are  slip- 
pery places  ahead." 

Now  when  they  came  out  from  the  bank  of 
the  stream  it  was  a  rise  to  the  village,  and  a 
distance  of  two  stones'  throw;  and  they  all 
shouted  loudly  and  rushed  on.  When  those  who 
had  gone  out  to  meet  them  saw  the  great  num- 
ber of  these  coming,  and  heard  the  noise  of  the 
shouting,  they  turned  and  ran  back  to  the  vil- 
lage. And  when  the  men  of  Nilisetsi  saw  this 
they  rushed  forward  without  any  order,  shouting 
Victory. 

But  this  was  a  trick.  Now,  although  it  is  a 
common  trick  which  every  Warrior  knows,  yet 
when  the  blood  is  hot  men  stop  not  to  reason, 
and  the  greater  their  might  the  more  surely  do 
men  proceed  without  caution. 

At  both  sides  of  the  village  Matauw  had  placed 
men  with  guns  amongst  the  rocks,  and  when  the 
men  of  Nilisetsi  were  come  within  a  stone's  throw 
of  the  huts  Matauw  fired,  and  at  this  all  those 
with  guns  fired  at  once  into  the  front  of  the 
men  coming  on,  and  many  of  them  dropped  to 
the  ground, 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  179 

Now  this  was  the  signal  for  the  men  who  were 
hidden  in  the  village,  and  with  a  great  shout  they 
all  sprang  out,  and  those  who  had  been  running 
back  turned  again.  And  while  yet  half  the  men 
of  Nilisetsi  had  not  crossed  the  stream,  these 
from  the  village  bore  down  upon  them. 


CHAPTER  XL 

"THE  WATER  MAY  LOOK  SHALLOW  BUT  ONE 
MAY  BE  DROWNED" 

GREAT  was  the  Fight ! 

But  the  men  of  Nilisetsi  had  received  a  shock 
at  the  firing  of  so  many  guns,  and  the  thought 
came  to  them  that  there  were  White  Men  fight- 
ing for  Kamalubi ;  and  they  looked  about.  Then 
the  men  from  the  village,  keeping  together  in 
a  body,  and  fighting  down  the  hill,  drove  the 
others  back  and  slew  many. 

But  now,  Kundu,  the  Chief,  and  Bokalobi,  the 
General,  came  on  with  all  those  who  had  been 
behind,  and  although  their  order  was  broken,  yet 
because  of  their  great  number  they  began  to  pre- 
vail. And  at  this  time  it  was  the  men  of  Matauw, 
at  each  end  of  the  village,  with  their  guns,  who 
kept  the  enemy  back.  For  they  shot  many  who 
ran  forward  with  torches  and  who  would  have 
fired  the  huts  at  the  ends  of  the  village. 

Now  the  fighting  was  fierce  before  the  village, 
and  all  the  men  swayed  back  and  forth  and  side- 
ISO 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  181 

ways  as  they  pressed  each  other.  And  some- 
times this  side  would  give  way  and  run  a  little 
back,  and  then  the  other  side  would  be  driven. 
And  deeds  of  great  bravery  were  done  on  both 
sides. 

But  the  men  of  Nilisetsi  were  strong  in  num- 
bers, and  they  began  to  come  nearer  to  the  vil- 
lage. Bokalobi,  the  General,  was  leading  his  men ; 
and  when  they  came  forward  now  they  were  not 
driven  back  again,  but  held  their  ground. 

Now  Kamalubi,  the  Chief,  saw  that  his  men 
were  being  driven  in,  and  he  turned  to  one,  who 
was  attending  on  him,  and  took  his  shield  from 
him  and  his  great  war  club.  And  Matauw,  when 
he  saw  that  Kamalubi  would  go  down,  gave  his 
gun  to  one  there  who  could  shoot,  and  he  took 
his  two  spears  and  his  club  and  went  down  with 
the  Chief. 

Now  these  two  were  of  greater  stature  and 
strength  than  any  who  were  there ;  Kamalubi  was 
the  greater  of  the  two,  but  he  was  fat.  And  when 
they  came  down  through  the  village  to  the  men, 
Kamalubi,  the  Chief,  gave  a  roar  like  a  bull,  and 
then,  with  a  great  laugh  which  was  heard  above 


182  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

all  the  noise  of  the  fighting,  he  sprang  forward 
with  long  strides;  and  Matauw  was  beside 
him. 

What  could  stand  before  those  two?  Wher- 
ever the  fighting  was  fiercest  came  they,  and  the 
enemy  sank  down  before  them.  And  the  men 
of  Rasalamoom,  when  they  heard  the  great  laugh 
of  their  Chief,  took  heart  again  and  cheered  each 
other;  and  those  with  the  guns  fired  always 
where  the  enemy  was  thickest. 

Now  the  men  of  Moali  had  been  a  hindrance 
to  Bokalobi,  for  while  they  had  pretended  to 
fight  they  had  ever  pressed  backwards;  but  they 
were  not  in  their  own  companies,  for  Bokalobi 
had  not  trusted  them. 

But  now,  when  the  men  of  the  village  cheered 
again  because  of  Kamalubi,  their  Chief,  and  the 
shooting  of  the  guns  was  hot  upon  them  so  that 
those  who  were  attacking  the  village  were  checked 
for  a  moment,  the  men  of  Tlapakun,  whose  Head 
was  Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One,  began  to  run  back- 
wards, shouting,  "  We  are  beaten.  White  Men 
are  fighting  for  Kamalubi.  We  are  beaten. 
Home,  brothers!  Home." 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  183 

Then  all  the  other  men  of  Moali  and  its  vil- 
lages took  up  the  cry  where  they  were,  and  turned 
and  ran  backwards.  And  where  the  men  of 
Moali  came  together  in  a  number  they  turned 
suddenly  upon  the  men  of  Nilisetsi — and  then 
for  the  first  time  on  that  day  their  spears  were 
red. 

Then  the  men  of  Kundu  raised  a  cry,  saying, 
"  We  are  betrayed ! "  and  there  was  confusion 
amongst  them.  But  Bokalobi,  the  General,  and 
the  Leaders  sprang  forward,  crying,  "  To  the 
village,  brothers!  To  the  village.  Come  on! 
Come  on ! "  And  Kundu,  the  Chief,  strove 
amongst  them  to  keep  their  faces  to  the  village. 
But  where  the  Leaders  were  not  the  men  began 
to  run  back  because  of  the  confusion  with  the 
men  of  Moali ;  and  when  first  a  few  ran,  others 
lost  heart  and  ran  after  them. 

Then  the  men  of  Rasalamoom  raised  the  shout, 
"  They  run !  They  run !  "  and  those  upon  the 
hill  took  up  the  shout,  and  they  all  pressed  for- 
ward hotly.  And  the  great  club  of  Kamalubi, 
the  Chief,  laid  many  of  the  Leaders  low  before 
him;  and  at  every  good  blow  the  Chief  would 


184.  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

laugh  loudly,  and  this  was  of  great  cheer  to  the 

men  behind  him. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  Bokalobi,  the  General, 
pressing  forward  to  cheer  his  men  against  the 
village,  and  Matauw  seeking  ever  the  greatest 
amongst  the  foe,  saw  each  other.  Now  Matauw 
and  Bokalobi  were  friends  of  many  years,  and 
held  each  other  in  high  esteem  as  brave  warriors 
and  honourable  men.  Many  times  had  they  slept 
under  one  roof  and  eaten  salt  together.  And  now, 
when  they  were  coming  together  in  the  fight, 
they  paused  and  looked  straight  across ;  and  they 
smiled. 

Then  Bokalobi  cried  aloud,  "  Ho,  brother !  Is 
it  indeed  thus  we  meet  ?  Welcome,  then,  as  ever. 
Thrice  welcome."  And  Matauw  cried,  "  Wel- 
come, brother !  Our  Fathers  are  good  to  us.  Let 
nothing  come  between  us  now.  Cast  thou  first; 
I  am  ready."  And  Matauw,  throwing  down  his 
club,  took  a  shield  from  one  behind  him. 

Then  Bokalobi,  Warrior  from  his  youth,  took 
his  casting  spear  and  threw  back  his  arm.  His 
weight  was  upon  his  right  foot,  and  the  toes  of 
his  left  foot  touched  the  ground  lightly  before 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  185 

him.  His  left  fore-arm  passed  through  the  thong- 
loops  of  his  shield,  and  in  that  hand,  half-raised, 
he  grasped  his  short  stabbing  spear.  And  the 
Warrior  loosed  and  pressed  his  fingers  upon  the 
haft  of  his  casting  spear  so  that  the  iron  head  of 
it  quivered  and  sang  at  his  ear. 

Then  Bokalobi  raised  himself  well  upon  his 
right  foot,  and,  bringing  forward  his  weight,  cast 
the  spear. 

Now  Matauw  was  a  man  of  great  muscle  and 
big,  so  that  the  shield  which  he  had  taken  from 
the  one  behind  him  fitted  ill  upon  his  arm;  also, 
the  distance  between  the  Warriors  was  but  ten 
paces,  so  that  though  he  crouched  in  to  himself 
he  received  the  spear  not  upon  his  shield.  Like 
lightning  it  flew  past  him,  ripping  his  shield- 
arm  from  outside  the  elbow  deeply  to  the 
shoulder. 

"  A  scratch,  brother !  A  scratch !  "  cried  Ma- 
tauw, and,  stretching  himself  with  the  word,  cast 
his  spear. 

Well  did  Bokalobi  know  the  strength  of  his 
friend,  and  that  no  shield  of  hide  might  take  his 
spear  straightly;  but,  hero  of  a  thousand  fights, 


186  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

he  knew  from  the  poise  how  the  spear  would  fly, 

and  his  shield  received  it  slantingly. 

Now,  at  once,  there  was  a  groan  from  those 
about,  for  the  glancing  spear  had  struck  N'yati — 
second  son,  and  favourite  of  Bokalobi,  who  was 
attending  upon  his  father  in  the  fight — full  in 
the  neck;  and  such  was  the  force  that  the  iron 
head  and  half  the  shaft  passed  right  through. 
Matauw,  when  he  saw  this,  raised  his  hand,  and 
his  voice  shook  as  he  cried,  "  Brother !  My 
Brother ! "  But  Bokalobi,  the  General,  when  he 
had  looked  round  and  seen  his  son  fall,  turned 
again  and  cried,  "  Nay,  Matauw !  'Twas  not  thy 
doing.  But  now  I  am  a  lopped  tree.  Come !  " 

Then  each  Warrior,  grasping  only  the  short 
fighting  spear,  and  with  the  shield  upon  the  left 
arm,  sprang  forward.  Matauw  was  the  taller 
and  the  stronger,  but  Bokalobi,  the  General,  was 
swift  upon  his  feet  and  cunning  with  shield  and 
spear. 

At  a  spear's  length  they  paused;  then  with 
crouching  and  bounding  and  much  feinting  they 
circled  round,  watching,  each,  the  eyes  of  the 
other.  Never  a  movement  was  lost;  and  when 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  187 

one  sprang  in,  or  they  sprang  together,  shield  met 
spear,  and  only  the  second  and  lighter  blows  as 
they  leaped  apart  found  flesh.  And  so  they  kept 
on,  and  none  attempted  to  hinder  them,  or  gave 
help  to  either  side. 

But  it  was  seen  that  Bokalobi  was  the  more 
cunning,  and  swifter  with  his  feet;  moreover,  the 
shield  which  Matauw  held  was  of  but  half  service 
to  him,  so  that  in  a  little  while  he  had  many  great 
flesh  wounds. 

Now  Matauw  saw  that  he  must  bring  the  fight 
to  an  issue  quickly,  for  he  was  losing  much  blood ; 
and  he  knew  that  only  by  closing  and  gripping 
his  foe  would  he  be  able  to  prevail  against  him. 
So  he  began  now,  while  circling  round  and  feint- 
ing, to  work  his  shield  loose  upon  his  arm.  Then, 
at  a  proper  moment,  Matauw  sprang  forward, 
and  as  he  took  Bokalobi's  spear  upon  his  shield 
he  drew  his  arm  out. 

In  a  moment  the  fight  was  over.  Bokalobi's 
spear,  at  his  second  thrust,  entered  deeply  above 
his  heart,  but  Matauw  gripped  the  shaft  with 
his  left  hand,  which  was  now  free,  and  pushed 
himself  from  it,  then,  forcing  Bokalobi's  spear 


188  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

upward,  he  closed  in  and  with  the  full  strength 
of  his  right  arm  drove  his  spear  downward 
through  the  warrior's  chest  into  his  stomach. 

Now  Matauw,  without  drawing  his  spear  again, 
threw  his  arms  around  his  old  friend  and  gently 
laid  him  down ;  and  Matauw  said,  "  Bokalobi ! 
Bokalobi !  "  And  Bokalobi,  the  General,  smiled 
as  he  died,  for  he  could  not  speak.  And  Matauw's 
heart  was  glad  at  that  smile. 

Many  warriors  on  both  sides  saw  the  fight,  and 
it  is  a  song  with  those  tribes  to  this  day. 

Now  when  it  was  seen  that  Bokalobi,  the  Gen- 
eral, had  fallen,  the  men  of  Nilisetsi  began  to 
give  way  in  the  centre — and  then  there  came  a 
panic  amongst  them.  They  turned  and  fled,  and 
could  no  more  be  held  together.  And  the  men 
of  Rasalamoom,  with  loud  shouting,  rushed  after 
them,  and  many  were  slain. 

But  Kamalubi,  the  Chief,  when  he  saw  them 
starting  to  run,  turned  back,  and  those  with  him, 
to  the  village.  And  Kamalubi  and  Matauw  were 
covered  in  blood  from  head  to  foot,  for  they  had 
both  received  many  wounds. 


CHAPTER  XLI 

"YOU  HAVE  HELD  A  BUFFALO  BY  THE  HORN 
FOR  ME  " 

Now  the  Chief  Koloani  had  had  charge  of  the 
Hills,  where  he  had  moved  from  place  to  place, 
and  Jamba,  son  of  Bama,  was  with  him.  Wher- 
ever the  danger  was  greatest  they  came,  and  they 
had  cheered  their  men  and  so  done  that  not  once 
had  the  men  of  Kundu  gained  the  top  of  the 
hill. 

And  now  when  the  enemy  before  them,  seeing 
their  friends  fleeing,  began  to  run  away  also,  and 
they  knew  that  the  day  was  won,  Koloani  and 
Jamba  hastened  down  to  the  village.  And  they 
were  astonished  when  they  saw  Kamalubi,  the 
Chief,  and  Matauw,  because  of  the  great  wounds 
upon  them. 

But  Kamalubi  laughed  and  said,  "  The  Bull  of 
the  Kraal  must  know  the  feel  of  the  Horns!  and 
now  I  know  what  is  in  thy  mind,  brother.  Take 
thy  men  with  thee  and  follow  after;  and  Moali 
is  thine  again." 

189 


190  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

And  while  they  yet  spoke  came  Spalodi  before 
them,  and,  when  he  had  saluted,  he  said  to  Kolo- 
ani,  "  The  men  of  Moali  await  thee,  Chief." 
Then  Koloani  gave  greeting  to  Kamalubi,  saying, 
"  Till  we  meet  again,  my  brother."  And  he  hur- 
ried away  with  Spalodi  and  Jamba. 

Now  when  Koloani  and  Jamba  came  out  from 
the  village  on  to  the  place  where  the  fighting  had 
been,  they  saw  how  fierce  was  the  battle,  for  the 
killed  and  the  wounded  lay  all  about  the  field. 
And  the  men  of  Rasalamoom,  returning  from 
the  chase,  came  dancing  and  singing  with  great 
joy.  And  the  women,  every  one  that  was  there, 
ran  about  and  waved  their  arms  wildly ;  and  they 
shouted  aloud  the  name  of  Kamalubi. 

Now  when  the  men  of  Kundu  gave  up  the 
fight,  all  those  who  belonged  to  Nilisetsi  and 
its  villages  ran  to  the  Hills  at  Dabitsi,  where  they 
had  slept  the  night  before ;  but  the  men  of  Moali 
came  away  from  them  to  one  side.  And  Koloani, 
the  Chief,  and  those  with  him,  hastened,  and 
when  the  men  of  Moali  saw  their  Chief  coming 
they  shouted  a  loud  greeting  to  him.  And  the 
Chief  saluted  them  as  Warriors. 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  191 

But  they  hurried  on  until  they  came  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Chuaani,  the  Hairy  One.  And  Chuaani, 
the  uncle  of  Koloani,  and  all  his  people  came 
to  meet  the  Chief  by  the  way ;  and  they  rejoiced 
greatly,  and  came  again,  singing  and  dancing,  to 
Tlapakun. 

Now  already,  before  the  Chief  had  come,  Chua- 
ani, the  Hairy  One,  had  sent  off  messengers  to 
all  the  People  of  Moali  saying  that  Kundu  was 
defeated,  and  that  Koloani,  the  Chief,  was  re- 
turning to  his  place.  And  when  Koloani  came 
to  Tlapakun  he  sent  two  Head  Men  in  haste  to 
his  own  village  of  Moali,  saying,  "  Make  known 
to  my  people  that  they  may  rejoice  and  be  glad, 
for  I  bear  not  enmity  to  any  for  that  which  is 
past;  and  in  the  morning  I  will  come  to  them." 

For  the  Sun  had  now  gone  down,  and  they 
were  all  very  tired. 


CHAPTER  XLII 

"THE  MOUTH  WHICH  ATE  DIRT  SHALL  EAT 
FAT,  AND  THE  MOUTH  THAT  ATE  FAT 
SHALL  EAT  DIRT" 

AT  the  village,  Tlapakun,  all  that  night  there  was 
great  rejoicing  and  dancing,  and  much  noise,  but 
Koloani  and  those  with  him  went  early  to  sleep, 
for  they  would  rise  again  before  the  sun  to  go  on 
their  way. 

In  the  morning,  at  the  breaking  of  the  day, 
Koloani,  the  Chief,  with  Chuaani,  his  uncle,  and 
many  others,  set  out  to  come  again  to  his  own 
place  at  Moali.  And  when  they  had  gone  about 
half-way  came  a  great  many  people — men  and 
women,  young  men  and  maidens — from  Moali  to 
meet  the  Chief  on  the  way.  And  all  these  sang 
and  danced,  and  shouted  greetings  to  their  Chief. 
And  they  went  on  and  came  with  great  rejoic- 
ings to  the  village. 

But  the  heart  of  the  Chief  was  sad,  for  he 
thought  of  his  sons  who  came  not  to  greet  him. 
And  Koloani  called  Jamba  to  him,  for  that  he 
192 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  >  193 
knew  the  young  man  would  be  sore  at  heart  also, 
because  of  his  father  and  his  brothers  who  were 
slain. 

Now  when  they  had  come  to  the  place  of  the 
Chief,  and  had  entered,  came  one  running  quickly 
and  asking  for  the  Chief;  and  when  he  was 
brought  in  he  saluted  Koloani  and  said,  "  Hangi, 
of  Botsabi,  has  gathered  his  cattle  and  his  sheep, 
and  he,  with  his  whole  House,  is  in  flight  to  go 
to  Kundu  at  Nilisetsi,  for  he  fears  thy  wrath." 

When  Jamba,  son  of  Bama,  heard  this  word 
he  grasped  his  spears  and  looked  with  great  eager- 
ness towards  the  Chief.  And  Koloani  smiled, 
and  was  glad  that  this  thing  had  come  between 
them  and  their  bitterness. 

So  Koloani  spoke  to  some  who  were  there  and 
they  went  out  and  brought  a  number  of  men 
quickly  together. 

Then  the  Chief  said  to  Jamba,  "  Go,  my  son ! 
and  take  these  men  with  thee,  and  when  thou 
comest  up  with  Hangi  let  thy  maiden  say  what 
he  shall  take  with  him  out  of  my  land  of  the  cat- 
tle and  the  sheep  and  those  of  his  House;  and  let 
the  word  of  thy  love  be  law  in  this  thing. 


194  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

"  Only,  with  Hangi,  let  certain  of  the  men  go 

with  him  to  the  border  and  see  him  away,  that 

we  may  feel  quit  of  this  meanness." 

And  to  the  men  Koloani  said,  "  Go  ye  with 

Jamba,  he  has  my  word  in  this  thing." 


CHAPTER  XLIII 

"HE  IS  NOT  PITIED  WHO  BRINGS  THE  EVIL 
UPON  HIMSELF" 

THEN  Jamba  and  those  with  him  took  the  road 
quickly  into  the  Tabandini,  the  Rugged  Hills, 
and  when  they  had  gone  some  way  into  the  hills 
they  saw  a  cloud  of  dust  before  them  and  they 
knew  that  it  must  be  the  cattle  and  the  sheep  of 
Hangi  which  made  the  dust  to  rise  in  such  a  way. 

Now  the  heart  in  the  breast  of  Jamba  was  beat- 
ing wildly,  and  the  young  man  placed  his  hand 
upon  his  breast  and  said,  "  Still,  Mamalubi !  Still, 
my  Heart !  Thou  knowest  that  I  am  near  thee." 

And  they  passed  quickly  round  the  top  of  the 
hill  so  that  they  should  come  to  the  road  in  front 
of  Hangi.  Then  Jamba  placed  certain  of  the  men 
on  each  side  of  the  road  and  he  with  two  others 
sat  by  the  road  and  waited. 

And  presently  the  sheep  and  the  goats  appeared, 

and  Jamba  had  them  turned  from  the  road  into 

the  hill,  and  those  who  were  driving  were  told 

to  keep  them  there.     Then  the  cattle  came,  and 

195 


196  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

it  was  done  with  them  as  with  the  sheep.  And 
following  on  the  cattle  came  asses  with  packs  on 
their  backs  and  with  these,  driving  them  on,  were 
Hangi  and  his  wives  and  their  children,  and 
others  of  his  House;  men  and  their  wives  and 
families. 

Now  Jamba  and  the  two  with  him  stood  in 
the  road  and  turned  the  asses  to  the  right  and 
to  the  left  into  the  hills.  And  when  Hangi  looked 
and  saw  the  men  on  both  sides  of  the  road  also, 
he  knew  that  he  was  taken,  and  he  came  forward 
to  where  Jamba  stood. 

"  Cunning  devours  its  master.'* 

But  when  he  saw  who  it  was  that  had  stopped 
him  thus  his  eyes  gleamed  with  hatred,  for  he 
thought,  This  is  he  who  has  brought  trouble  upon 
my  House. 

But  Jamba  looked  only  for  a  moment  at  Hangi, 
for  already  he  had  seen  Mamalubi  step  out  from 
amongst  the  women — and  she  was  coming  to- 
wards him. 

Then  Jamba  saw  nothing  but  his  love,  and  he 
sprang  forward  to  meet  her,  and  she  came  hold- 
ing out  her  hands.  And  before  all  those  there 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  197 

he  took  her  two  hands  into  his  and  they  stood 
so  for  a  moment  upon  the  road,  saying  nothing, 
but  with  their  eyes  speaking  each  to  each. 

Then  Mamalubi  said,  "  I  knew  thou  wert  near 
me.  I  have  seen  thee  every  morning  at  sunrise, 
and  I  have  known  no  fear  for  thee  or  for  my- 
self." 

And  Jamba  said,  "  My  Love !  " 

Now  all  those  who  were  watching  were  greatly 
surprised;  and  the  women  were  more  astonished 
than  the  men ;  because  few  in  that  part  ever  knew 
such  love.  And  it  was  not  in  this  way  that  women 
approached  men,  as  though  they  were  equal  with 
them  under  the  sun. 

Now  Jamba  took  the  maiden  with  him  and  he 
spoke  to  the  two  who  had  been  with  him  and 
said,  "  Wait !  "  And  when  they  had  come  a  lit- 
tle way  Jamba  told  to  the  maiden  that  which 
Koloani,  the  Chief,  had  said. 

And  Mamalubi  thought  not  for  a  moment,  but 
said :  "  Such  and  such  are  my  own  cattle  and  my 
goods;  take  only  these,  my  Lord,  and  let  my 
father  go  his  way  with  his  House." 

And  Jamba  said,  "  It  shall  be  so." 


198  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

Then  he  sent  and  had  those  cattle  brought  out 
which  Mamalubi  had  said,  with  the  calves  which 
were  theirs.  And  the  maiden  returned  to  where 
the  women  were  and  took  her  own  goods,  what- 
ever was  hers.  And  when  these  were  brought  to- 
gether, and  Mamalubi  had  greeted  her  mother 
and  those  she  would,  Jamba  said  to  the  two  men 
who  had  stood  with  him,  "  Take  now  twenty  men 
and  go  with  Hangi  to  the  Border;  and  when  he 
has  gone  over  and  on  his  way,  return  again  to 
Moali — but  take  no  thing  from  Hangi  or  from 
these  who  are  with  him." 

And  Jamba  spoke,  and  certain  of  the  men  took 
up  the  goods,  and  others  took  charge  of  the  cat- 
tle which  had  been  brought  out.  And  when  Hangi 
would  have  spoken  Jamba  heard  him  not,  but 
turned  to  Mamalubi  and  they  walked  back  upon 
the  road  together  before  them  all. 


CHAPTER  XLIV 

"  THE  LITTLE  DUIKER  OF  POINTED  HAIR  ..." 
As  they  walked  back  upon  the  road  Mamalubi 
told  to  the  young  man  all  that  which  had  taken 
place  in  her  father's  house  in  this  time. 

How  that  even  four  days  since  Sopanto  had 
come  saying  now  was  the  time  in  which  she  should 
be  brought  to  his  house;  and  that,  when  her 
mother  told  her,  she  had  refused  to  make  ready, 
saying  she  could  not  go  to  Sopanto.  How  that 
her  father  had  beaten  her  mother  because  of  her 
child's  disobedience  and  that  her  mother  and  the 
other  women  had  then  come  and  scolded  her  and 
beaten  her. 

And  then  that  Hangi,  her  father,  had  said  he 
would  fasten  a  rope  round  her  neck  and  bring 
her  thus  to  Nilisetsi,  before  the  women  of  the 
Chief,  who  would  know  how  to  deal  with  one 
who  would  set  her  face  against  her  father's  will 
and  the  law  of  the  land  in  this  thing. 

And  Mamalubi  said,  "  They  set  a  watch  over 
199 


200  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

me,  but  I  had  no  fear  so  that  even  this  day  when 
my  father  would  have  tied  me  and  fastened  me 
to  one  of  the  asses  I  said,  '  I  will  walk  with  the 
women  and  will  make  no  trouble  by  the  way ! ' 
But  the  heart  within  me  leaped  upon  the  way  and 
I  looked  for  thee  and  was  not  surprised  at  thy 
coming." 

Now  when  they  came  to  Moali  there  were  a 
great  many  people  at  the  village,  for  they  were 
yet  rejoicing  at  the  coming  again  of  the  Chief; 
and  the  Head  Men  from  all  the  villages  with 
many  of  their  people  had  come  in  to  see  the  Chief 
and  to  rejoice. 

And  when  Jamba,  son  of  Bama,  the  Warrior, 
walked  in  on  the  open  way  to  the  sabolo  of  the 
Chief,  and  the  maiden  walked  beside  him,  the 
people  smiled  upon  them  and  saluted  Jamba — 
albeit  was  never  before  known  that  a  girl  walked 
by  the  side  of  a  man  in  this  wise — for  the  people 
knew  the  story  of  these  two  and  that  Good  Spirits 
were  with  them. 

Now  when  they  came  to  the  sabolo  of  the 
Chief,  Jamba  sent  one  of  the  men,  saying,  "  Make 
known  to  the  Chief  that  the  son  of  Bama  stands 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  201 

without  his  gate  and  that  he  brings  with  him  one 
who  would  fain  find  favour  in  the  eyes  of  the 
Chief." 

And  the  man  returned  again  quickly,  saying, 
"The  Chief  bids  thee  come  in  to  him,  and  the 
one  with  thee." 

So  Jamba  brought  Mamalubi  into  the  presence 
of  the  Chief,  and  the  maiden,  when  she  had  seen 
the  face  of  the  Chief,  stood  before  him  looking 
upon  the  ground.  And  Koloani  said,  "  Maiden, 
fear  nothing!  Thou  art  with  friends.  In  my 
house  shalt  thou  be  as  a  daughter  until  the  time 
when  Jamba,  whom  I  love  as  a  son,  shall  have 
prepared  his  place  to  receive  thee." 

And  Koloani  said  also  to  Jamba,  "  Thou  hast 
chosen  well,  my  son,  for  surely  is  there  not  such 
another  maiden  in  all  this  land ;  and  yet  art  thou 
worthy  of  her,  for  a  Man  art  thou  and  thy  name 
shall  be  known." 

And  Jamba  said,  "  I  chose  not,  my  father,  nor 
she.  Our  hearts  are  one."  Then  Mamalubi 
turned  her  face  to  the  Young  Man.  And  when 
Koloani,  the  Chief,  saw  the  smile  which  passed 
between  those  two  he  understood  that  saying. 


CHAPTER  XLV 

"THE  LYNX  SAYS,  'I  AM  FLEET  OF  FOOT,'  BUT 
THE  PLAINS  SAY,  'WE  ARE  WIDE'" 

Now  the  Chief  had  made  known  that  on  the 
morrow  he  would  meet  all  the  Head  Men  and 
Leaders  of  the  People  in  council,  and  so  there 
was  not  one  who  stayed  away  excepting  by  sick- 
ness. And  in  the  morning,  after  the  first  meal, 
they  came  together  in  the  Great  Place  before  the 
sabolo  of  the  Chief.  All  the  Heads  of  the  vil- 
lages, and  the  Heads  of  the  Houses  in  the  vil- 
lages came  together;  and  some  had  travelled  all 
through  the  night  to  be  present  at  the  bidding  of 
the  Chief. 

And  when  Koloani  came  into  the  Great  Place 
all  those  there  stood  up  and  saluted  the  Chief, 
striking  their  hands  together  and  shouting  loudly, 
saying,  "  Chief !  Great  Chief !  "  and  telling  the 
names  of  his  fathers'  fathers.  And  when  the 
Chief  rose  in  his  place  they  all  sat  down  again 
upon  the  ground. 

Then  Koloani  stood  forth,  and  when  he  had 
203 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  203 

looked  round  upon  them  all  the  Chief  spoke — 
and  these  were  his  words: 

"  My  fathers  and  my  brothers,  hear  me !  That 
which  is  past  ye  know.  We  have  come  through 
a  Black  Moon  in  which  no  man  could  see  straight 
before  him.  There  are  faces  missing  from  the 
Council.  Whether  I,  your  Chief,  lived  or  was 
dead  many  of  ye  knew  not,  and  another  was  in 
my  place. 

"The  hunchback  is  not  told  to  stand  upright." 

"  His  spies  went  in  and  out  amongst  you,  and 
men  feared  to  open  their  mouths  except  in  praise 
of  him.  Who  can  pass  judgment  on  such  a  time? 

"  Brothers !  What  I  know  and  will  remember 
is  that  ye  fought  for  me  on  the  field  at  Rasala- 
moom,  and  that  by  that  am  I  here  again  in  my 
Place.  And  that  there  shall  be  understanding 
amongst  you,  and  mistrust  and  ill-will  done  away, 
have  I  brought  you  together  here  to  hold  council. 

"  Let  no  man  speak  to  me  against  his  neighbour 
because  of  that  which  is  past.  Let  all  your  dis- 
putes also  be  settled  now  in  council,  before  ye 
part,  that  there  may  be  peace  in  the  land.  The 


204  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

back  of  that  Snake  is  broken,  so  that  he  can 
spit  and  bite  only  in  his  place.  We  need  have  no 
fear  of  him. 

"  Thanks  are  due  ,to  the  shoulders  which  keep 
the  shirt  from  falling  off." 

"  And  now,  my  brothers !  What  think  ye  of 
Kamalubi,  Son  of  Maroani,  Chief  of  Rasala- 
moom?  Must  I  say  all  that  which  he  has  done 
for  me  and  for  this  People?  Nay;  for  it  is 
known.  He  was  a  cloud  between  me  and  my 
Enemies.  He  stood  as  a  shield  before  me.  But 
because  of  this  did  they  up  against  him,  and 
he  and  his  people  have  been  sore  stricken. 

"  Not  one  condition  did  he  lay  upon  me ;  nor 
would  he  bind  me  by  a  word.  My  brothers ! 
Great  is  the  heart  of  that  man.  A  Chief,  in  truth, 
is  he! 

"  Now,  Moali.  On  the  third  day  from  this 
will  I  go  up  to  Rasalamoom  to  speak  to  Kama- 
lubi that  which  is  in  my  heart.  Do  ye,  now, 
consider  amongst  yourselves  whether  I  must  go 
with  empty  hands,  or  whether  there  is  a  way 
in  which  this  People  can  show  honour  and  give 
thanks  to  such  a  Chief.  I  have  said." 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  205 

Now  many  of  the  people  had  come  up  in  fear 
to  Moali  because  of  that  which  had  been  done 
in  the  last  Moon;  and  they  knew  not  how  they 
would  be  received;  so  that  this  which  the  Chief 
had  said  was  of  great  delight  to  them.  And  when 
Koloani  had  finished  speaking  they  all  rose  to 
their  feet  again  and  saluted  the  Chief. 

And  many  old  disputes  and  grievances  were 
wiped  away  at  this  council;  for  the  people  had 
come  happily  together,  and  the  words  which  the 
Chief  had  spoken  disposed  them  to  reason  where 
before  they  had  been  stubborn. 

And  all  those  Head  Men  who  could  do  so  said 
they  would  go  up  with  the  Chief  to  do  honour 
to  Kamalubi.  And  every  man  in  the  land  of 
Moali  was  bidden  give  such  a  thing  as  he  could, 
and  bring  all  together  that  Koloani  might  offer 
it  to  Kamalubi  as  the  thanks  of  his  people.  It 
was  said  that  every  one  who  could  give  some- 
thing should  bring  it  to  Tlapakun  the  village  of 
Chuaani,  which  was  on  the  Border,  near  to  Rasa- 
lamoom. 

And  soon  Chuaani  had  to  build  kraals,  and 
then  to  make  the  kraals  larger,  for  cattle  and 


206  AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA 

goats  and  sheep  and  asses  were  brought  in  by 
the  people  from  morning  till  night.  And  it  was 
seen  that  every  man  was  concerned  to  bring  some- 
/  thing.  Those  who  were  wealthy  gave  some,  ten 
oxen;  and  some,  five  cows,  and  five  asses;  and 
others,  many  sheep  and  goats ;  and  those  who  had 
little  goods  brought,  some  a  sheep,  and  some  a 
goat.  And  from  all  sides  they  came,  so  that  never 
were  so  many  animals  seen  together  in  one  place. 

And  when,  on  that  day,  Koloani,  the  Chief, 
came  to  the  Border,  and  saw  what  the  People 
had  done,  his  heart  was  glad  and  warmed  to- 
wards them. 

And  a  great  many  men  went  up  with  Koloani 
to  Rasalamoom;  and  women  and  girls  followed 
behind,  singing  and  praising  the  deeds  of  the  good 
Chief  Kamalubi. 

The  sheep  and  the  cattle  and  the  goats  and  the 
asses  were  driven  with  them,  and  they  spread 
on  all  the  fields  about,  and  it  was  good  to  look 
upon  them. 

Now  when  it  was  told  to  Kamalubi  that  Kolo- 
ani was  coming  to  do  him  honour,  he  went  out 
with  his  Head  Men,  who  were  there,  to  meet 


AN  ETHIOPIAN  SAGA  207 

him  by  the  way.  And  Kamalubi  was  pleased  when 
he  saw  all  these  coming  to  greet  him,  and  heard 
their  songs ;  and  when  he  was  come  near  to  Kolo- 
ani,  and  saw  him,  the  Chief  laughed  greatly  with 
pleasure,  so  that  every  one  could  hear  him. 

Then  the  Chiefs  greeted  each  other  as  brothers; 
and  the  people  gathered  around  them  at  a  dis- 
tance; and  the  people  saw  all  the  wounds  upon 
Kamalubi,  and  sang  of  his  greatness  in  war,  and 
of  his  good  heart. 

But  when  Koloani  showed  to  Kamalubi  all  the 
cattle  and  sheep  and  goats  and  asses,  and  told  him 
that  this  was  a  gift  to  him  from  the  people  of 
Moali  for  what  he  had  done  for  them — from 
every  man  something — the  Chief  could  not  speak 
for  his  pleasure.  He  looked  round  upon  the  peo- 
ple; and  then  Kamalubi  laughed,  for  he  found 
no  speech — and  it  was  such  a  great  laugh  that 
the  people  laughed  with  him.  All  the  people 
joined  in  the  laugh. 

And  the  face  of  Kamalubi  shone,  and  his  belly 
shook ;  and  he  took  Koloani  by  the  arm  and  they 
went  in  to  the  village. 

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A  collection  of  the  poems  that  have  appeared  since 
"Factories."     $1.25  net. 

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BY      SIMEON      STRUNSKY 

PROFESSOR  LATIMER'S  PROGRESS 

The  "  sentimental  journey "  of  a  middle-aged 
American  scholar  upon  whose  soul  the  war  has  come 
down  heavily,  and  who  seeks  a  cure — and  an  answer 
— in  a  walking  trip  up-State. 

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a  joyous  company.  It  is  a  spiritual  adventure,  the  adventure 
of  the  American  soul  in  search  of  a  new  foothold  in  a  totter- 
ing world.  We  have  so  many  books  of  documents,  of  animus, 
or  argument ;  what  a  refreshment  to  fall  in,  for  once  in  a 
way,  with  a  book  of  that  quiet  creative  humor  whose  '  other 
name'  is  wisdom." — The  Nation.  (Illustrated,  $1.40  net.) 


LITTLE  JOURNEYS  TOWARDS  PARIS  (g}J) 

By  W.  HOHENZOLLERN,  translated  and  adapted  for 
unteutored  minds  by  SIMEON  STRUNSKY.  75  cents  net. 

"  If  only  the  Germans  could  be  supplied  with  translations 
of  this  exquisite  satire  they  would  die  laughing  at  the  grisly 
joke  on  themselves.  Not  only  funny,  it  is  a  final  reductio 
ad  absurdum  of  the  Hun  philosophy." — Chicago  Tribune. 


BELSHAZZAR  COURT 
Or  Village  Life  in  New  York  City 

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apartment  house,  in  the  street,  at  the  theater,  the 
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The  Third  Edition,  Revised  and  Enlarged,  of 

THE   HOME   BOOK  OF  VERSE 

COMPILED    BY 

BURTON  E.  STEVENSON 

has  been  revised  from  end  to  end — 590  poems  have  been 
added,  pages  renumbered,  author,  title,  arrf  first  line  in- 
dices, and  the  biographical  matter  corrected,  etc.,  etc. 

The  hundreds  of  letters  from  readers  and  poets  suggest- 
ing additions  or  corrections  as  well  as  the  columns  of 
reviews  of  the  first  edition  have  been  considered.  Poets 
who  were  chary  of  lending  their  support  to  an  unknown 
venture  have  now  generously  permitted  the  use  of  their 
work. 

This  edition  includes  the  "new"  poets  such  as  MASE- 
FIELD,  CHESTERTON,  FROST,  RUPERT  BROOKE,  DE  LA 
MARE,  RALPH  HODGSON,  etc. 

"A  collection  so  complete  and  distinguished  that  it  is 
difficult  to  find  any  other  approaching  it  sufficiently  for 
comparison." — New  York  Times  Book  Review  on  the 
first  edition. 

India  Paper,  4,096  pages 

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Cloth,  two  volumes,  $12.50  net. 

Half  Morocco,  one  volume,  $14.00  net. 

Half  Morocco,  two  volumes,  $25.00  net. 


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